6.2 EDSR 07-21-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Concentrations of cultural The Crane Building in North Philadelphia is an example KEYPOINT#1: enterprises and creative of a facility-centric redevelopment for creative busi- Economic workers in a geographic nesses and artists.Originally built in 1905 as a plumb- development area provide a competitive ing warehouse,the building today houses Crane Arts is enhanced by edge,likely by elevating (www.cranearts.com),with four floors of artist studios concentrating the quality of life,improv- and suites and a variety of project spaces available creativity through ing a community's ability for community programs and cultural development. both physical to attract economic activ- Facilities include an art-restoration studio,a ceramics density and ity,and creating a climate studio,a multimedia studio,and a printmaking, paint- human capital. in which innovation can ing,and sculpting studio.One of the office suites is a flourish. cultural coworking space opened by Peregrine Arts (www.peregrinearts.org)for entrepreneurs,consul- Concentration of culture-sector firms and highly tants,artists,writers,visionaries,and anyone working skilled workers,along with related facilities and busi- in design, media, history,the arts,and cultural heritage. ness,enables partnerships and cooperative projects to The building has been successful enough that Crane develop.Concentration also facilitates the marketing Arts is considering opening another building.As an of skills and products.The physical density of creative economic development tool,the building is beneficial and cultural firms promotes the sector's prosperity, not only to the creative occupants but to adjacent which is in turn economically good for the local area communities and the design profession as a whole. For as a whole. example,during the recent economic recession,local architects with few or no incoming projects partici- Clusters of culturally oriented businesses and workers pated in a gallery exhibit at Crane Arts in an effort to can breed innovation and new specializations. Places "get back to the act of making things."'The exhibit was where innovation is prized are naturally attractive to an effective tool for marketing and design. innovators and conducive to creativity of all types,as the frequency of exchange promotes creative activity. In Tampa, Florida,a local developer designed and cre- Planners can develop projects that deliberately lo- ated the Sanctuary Lofts (www.sanctuarylofts.com) as cate creative professionals in a facility or area. Density an urban revitalization project to concentrate creativ- or concentration of creative facilities can occur on a ity and attract residents back to the downtown.The range of scales,from a single building to a streetscape, project began with an early 20th-century Greek Revival neighborhood,or district. church in the Tampa Heights historic district that was transformed into loft apartments with space for creative-studio rentals. Many of the existing materials were salvaged,including doors,windows, pews,and hymnal racks.Sanctuary Lofts now serves as workspace for painters,artists, photographers,designers,and ar- chitects.This unique living space can assist in facilitat- ing communication between creative organizations and the public and can create a stronger sense of iden- tity for community residents. AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION