Greater Lowertown Master Plan, Saint PaulArts, Culture, and the Creative CommunityPreliminary Information, April 20, 2011 (DRAFT)

CONTENTS:

PLANNING SESSIONSummarySession NotesAttendees

SURVEY RESULTSDates, distribution, invitation letter, questions, totalsResults TableData Sorting CategoriesTop PrioritiesSample Responses

Other Questions and Topics

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Planning Session

April 7, 2011Summary

Nearly 30 active members of the arts and cultural sector of Saint Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood met April 7 at Heartland’s private dining space, convened by the Greater Lowertown Master Plan Task Force. The group of mostly artists included nonprofit leaders, residents, city staff and consultants. (See full list of participants.) The event was part of a master planning process underway in the context of light rail transit construction and other infrastructure investments in Lowertown likely to have a profound impact on the community over the next decade.

During the three-hour session, participants arrived at a collection of ideas for the neighborhood’s future and specific steps to bring about the visions they articulated. The most commonly cited concerns had to do with affordability of housing and work space, and the identity of the neighborhood and how that identity is projected and appreciated.

The session was led by Tom Borrup, a Twin Cities planning consultant and long-time arts advocate, along with Andrew Dresdner, a member of Cuningham, the consulting team engaged to develop the Lowertown master plan.

Four primary issues surfaced. These were derived from results of a survey of people who live or work in Lowertown and have connection to the arts community there. A total of 88 complete responses were received to the survey that yielded five areas of greatest concern and interest: artist community, identity and image, affordability, parking, and making a living as an artist.

After discussing the survey outcomes, the group added a concern that addressed the neighborhood’s future as a complete place to live, work, shop, and recreate, and one that is well connected to other areas. They indicated little interest in talking further about parking or making a living as an artist during this session.

Four topics were then addressed with the group choosing tables assigned to each topic. They were: 1) the artist community; 2) affordability; 3) the self-contained neighborhood and its connections; 4) Lowertown’s identity and image. Although the top area of interest to survey respondents was the artist community, this table drew only three participants. Identity and image drew ten, and the other two six.

Visions around affordability emphasized stability of living and working space, development of neighborhood amenities making it a more complete living and working environment, establishment and projection of a strong identity of Lowertown as an artist area, and the cultivation of a well-organized and powerful political constituency.

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The work team addressing the complete and connected neighborhood described walkable and bikable links to the river and other parts of the city, more green spaces especially for children and families, amenities such as a clinic, grocery, educational facility, art center, and more gathering places. They also added an art market and greater resources in the area of culinary arts.

The identity and image group articulated a vision for a highly recognized brand identity for Lowertown, one that was backed up by a cohesive artist community. They envision a place where art is visible and visceral, where residents and visitors alike – both artists and non-artists – take part in and experience art making.

The artist community group echoed many of the other elements described by other teams. These included affordable spaces, gathering places and educational opportunities. A strong sense of identity was important to this group, although external image was less so.

These groups continued their work through the afternoon producing lists of specific action steps towards the visions they described. These ranged from things as ambitious as transitioning existing residential buildings into properties owned by artist-residents, to developing shared well-equipped work spaces, to launching a business retention program for artists and other creative entrepreneurs. Other actions were relatively simple as better connecting artists with the District Council, revitalizing alley spaces, and installing light pole banners. (See full list of session notes.)

The group adjourned with the understanding that the ideas generated would find their way into the Master Plan in some form, as well as the understanding that future community organizing among the participants and additional neighborhood stakeholders would be necessary to realize any of them.

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Artist/Arts Community Planning Session. April 7, 2011NOTES

AFFORDABILITY - REDEFINED

Visions

More and smaller units for living and working Publicly or community owned buildings dedicated to specific used Social structures that recognize the value of artists Non-monetary compensation to address affordability Financial incentives to keep artists in Lowertown Property taxes for low/moderate income status Homestead tax treatment for all artist housing No state taxes for artists Artist housing that included ownership, market rental, and low income Gallery and display and performance space on the street Parking assured for residents (promised 25 years ago) Lowertown as a self-reliant community with coops for all basic needs – housing,

food, credit, business resources. Etc. Lowertown identified and recognized worldwide as an artist village, whose sole

purpose is the fostering and developing of artists Lowertown as an organized community with the political power to shape its own

destiny.

Action Items

1. Need a resource inventory and database identifying what is already in Lowertown

2. Make Northern and Tilsner into ownership buildings3. Save and create more raw space (Jax)4. Purchase and fill lower floors of 255 East Kellogg (Lowertown Lofts Coop

Building) with arts organizations, studio spaces, and business space.5. Renovate the alley between Wacouta and Wall, 4th and Kellogg6. Develop a Plan to create a non-profit or cooperative community venture7. Need housing and residential organizing District Council (like other

neighborhoods) not just business representation8. Create a small business / artists incentives to stay in Lowertown (tax credits)9. Define the Lowertown Arts District – not geographically only – include sphere of

influence10. Create street level art presence11. Create covenants with city / public money to include artists in a community

benefit agreement

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SELF-SUSTAINING COMMUNITY

Vision Connection to river

o Walking and greenspace for kids and artists Health Care/clinic Tot Lot Arts Center(rehearsals, theatre, workshops, education)

o Less traditional, don’t wall each other with bricks and mortaro In collaboration with FM and communityo Flexible Spaceo Intersect with each other and the public

Culinary Arts (collaboration with other segments) More connectivity of artists with business The Black Dog model for a community center Place for families that are picking up kids Spaces like Leonardo’s basement Groceries and other vital services build community (affordable) Events to cross – pollinate across community Child care and family friendly restaurants Bruce Vento connection and visibility Mears and Farmers Market – pleasant, people stick to those areas Increase visibility that artists live here Winter activities Connectivity to nature and walking Art classes and businesses Stable, affordable, and plentiful artist housing and studios Cheap but good eats--maybe transform the mediocre food court currently in

Cray Plaza More green space Flexible third places for all sorts of events, gatherings, and work related to art Perhaps related to the above, we need more than a Black Dog; Currently no rec center or school Community organizing Leaders and entrepreneurs Education/entertainment for creative types A game-changer that makes the arts special like the farmer's market Artists and businesses working together more

Action Items1. Conduct an Artist / Community Center meeting2. Invite outside perspectives and other great ideas3. Space Inventory

a. Invite realtors and potential developers

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4. Conversation around creative enterprise zonea. (broadening the definition of “arts” community)

5. Survey residents to determine their service and business needs6. Creative artist based services for new businesses (marketing, development, etc)7. Organize a coalition to manage and push this through8. Develop shared equipment opportunities (photo, ceramics, glass, etc)9. Union Depot

IDENTITY AND IMAGE

Vision A recognized brand and destination for visiting and living Easy to navigate (maps, video billboards) A cohesive artist-centered community (centralized event info, linking

destinations and events) Visible and Visceral – make it clear that art happens here. Engaging non-artists in the artistic community (art-making, meeting artists) Residents feel this is a safe affordable vibrant place to live Homegrown arts activities are (and are perceived to be) the core of a successful

economic community Identity is grounded in the artists who live here, not the visitors. The Lowertown Arts District

Action Items1. Create a Web page / clearinghouse (events and locations)2. Develop a Neighborhood cultural map3. Install Banners (farmers market, art crawl, etc)4. Create Streetscape with art5. (following along with the CCLRT construction)6. Build a Brand Task Force (including Springboard, Business community, etc)

Cultural Start Funds/7. Install Bulletin Board / Kiosk8. (digital or posters)9. Challenge historic preservation concept to include contemporary cultural values10. Business retention for artists businesses 9i.e. business assistance focus to keep

them viable.)11. Engagement with development opportunities (i.e. Saints)12. Develop a formal process or means for ongoing requirement to engage artists in

discussions through District Councils13. Requirement that new development (especially those using public funds) add

benefits to artists / art policies. ATTENDEES:

LT Arts Organizations:

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Laura Zabel, Springboard for the Arts Robyn Priestley, Arts Collective and Art CrawlRobert Byrd, Jerome FoundationBen Krywosz, Nautilus Music, resident of LT LoftsChristine Podas-Larson, Public Art Saint Paul

Artists/Creative Community:Caly McMorrow, sound artist, resident of LT Lofts, and Springboard for the ArtsMarla Gamble, resident and co-founder of LT LoftsHeather Barringer, ZeitgeistChamath Perera, writer, resident of TilsnerMike Hazard, video/filmmaker, resident of TilsnerDesdamona, singer, resident of Crane OrdwayAndrew Rist, Ballet MinnesotaDawn Ledine, Station 4Marc Levin, Flying FormsBill Moran, Blinc PublishingPeet Fetsch, graphic designerLenny Russo, Executive Chef, Heartland Restaurant

City/Planning/Funders:Joe Spencer, Arts & Culture, Mayor's OfficeRegina Flanagan, Public Art Ordinance Administrator, photographer, has studio in LTTodd Bressi, urban planning consultant, from Central Corridor Public Art PlanWeiming Lu, Lowertown Future FundSharon de Mark, St. Paul Foundation

Task Force Members and Project Consultants:Tom Borrup, cultural planner, Creative Community BuildersMike Lamb, Cuningham Group, lead consultantsAndrew Dresdner, Cuningham Group, lead consultantsEllen McPartlan, resident of Lot 270, Chair of the Task ForceJustin Busch, writer & composer, resident of Northern Warehouse, Task Force memberMarcus Young, City Artist in Residence, resident of the Dakota, Task Force member

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Other Questions and Topics

These additional points about art, culture, and the creative community come from focus groups in conversation with the Task Force and consultants. They are preliminary.

• In public spaces/ as functional elements / on unused objects• As landscape and landform• Create a permanent visible and public home for the Arts• Lowertown Art Center or a Community Center for Artists• Create a home for the Minnesota Museum for American Arts• Develop arts oriented events - Event Urbanism• Animate vacant ground floor spaces with temporary installations and permanent galleries• Explore arts related to the Market, urban agriculture, and local food• Expand art offerings: galleries, performance spaces, academies• Develop a niche economy - clusters• Ensure affordable housing and studio space• Create additional “third places”• Create an organizational structure with representation and capacity to implement• As cultural interpretation in concert with the Historic District

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Finally, one topic that has not been discussed in any of our meetings or focus groups:

There is an international high school in Galtier/Cray Plaza with 180 students, many from South Korea, but other countries too. There is a Burmese community of 200 that uses the First Baptist Church on 9th off Wacouta Commons Park. There is a relatively new African American beauty salon and barber shop on 7th at Sibley called Just Glamorous. Tanpopo Japanese restaurant is a core and longtime business in Lowertown. There is a sizable Somali community in the apartments at 8th and Temperance. Many of the farmers at the Farmers Market are Hmong.

These do not form a cohesive thought, but when and how do we address this dimension of cultural community in our planning? We have not yet mentioned one of these in any of our discussions.

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SURVEY RESULTS

DATESFebruary 4 – 21, 2011

NOTICE & FLYER DISTRIBUTION▪ sent to email lists belonging to Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul Arts Collective, Public

Art Saint Paul▪ flyers distributed to, and in some instances to all doors within, the Tilsner, Northern

Warehouse, Crane Ordway, Northwestern, JAX, and Lowertown Lofts▪ flyers distributed to Golden’s Deli and Black Dog▪ announced at Artists Happy Hour, Art Crawl planning meetings

TOTAL RESPONSES124 Total Respondents88 Respondents answered at least one of the main three questions, meaning 36 did

not answer questions related to the Lowertown neighborhood.60 Respondents either live or work in Lowertown, meaning 28 respondents neither

live nor work in Lowertown.

INVITATION LETTER

Hello Lowertown Artists and Creative Community,

Lowertown is changing quickly. Light rail, Union Depot, and the Lafayette Bridge are just a few examples. Right now, residents of Lowertown are leading an effort to create a significant plan to guide future changes to our neighborhood. The creative community has always been an essential voice here. If you’re an artist, designer, or other member of the creative community, please fill out this short survey to give us your good ideas for Lowertown.

As an extra incentive, Springboard for the Arts is offering PRIZES. One lucky survey participant will win $200, and ten of you will win a gift certificate for a free Springboard workshop. Take just a few minutes to fill out these 7 questions.

Thanks!

Marcus Young, Public Art Saint PaulLaura Zabel, Springboard for the ArtsRobyn Priestley, St. Paul Art Collective

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SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. What is your primary practice or art form?Crafts, Design Arts, Film/Video/Media Arts, Folk/Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary, Literature, Music, Opera/Musical Theater, Other, Performance, Photography, Producer/Arts Administrator, Public Art, Theater, Visual Arts; More Detail: ____

2. Where do you live?Tilsner, Northern Warehouse, Lowertown Lofts Co-op, Crane Ordway, 262 Studios, not in Lowertown; Other (please specify): ____

3. Where do you Work?in my live/work studio in Lowertown, JAX Building, Northwestern, not in Lowertown; Other (please specify): ____

Please answer the following questions as they relate to any aspect of Lowertown livability (e.g. housing, professional support services, work life, social life, transportation, community organizing, public spaces, galleries and art centers, performance venues, local businesses, gathering spaces, the environment, etc.)

4. What is good about being an artist in Lowertown? How does being in Lowertown support you as an artist or member of the creative community.

5. What is NOT good about being an artist in Lowertown. How does being in Lowertown NOT support you as an artist or member of the creative community?

6. Please name the one or two most important things you would like to see happen in Lowertown that could drastically transform the artist and creative community for the better.

7. Thanks for completing the survey. To be eligible for the prizes and to learn about the results of this survey and about the planning work being done for Lowertown, please give us your contact info. This is OPTIONAL, but required if you want to be considered for the prizes.Name:Email:Phone Number:

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NOTE: Data related to the first three questions is available but not yet in this report.

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LIKESALL LIVE/WORK

DISLIKESALL LIVE/WORK

WANTSALL LIVE/WORK

# % # % # % # % # % # %Affordability 14 15.9% 13 21.7% Affordability 12 13.6% 9 15.0% Affordability 16 18.2% 11 18.3%Art Center 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Art Center 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Art Center 6 6.8% 4 6.7%Art Crawl 29 33.0% 23 38.3% Art Crawl 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Art Crawl 4 4.5% 2 3.3%Art Resources 15 17.0% 8 13.3% Art Resources 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Art Resources 5 5.7% 3 5.0%Artist Community 65 73.9% 47 78.3% Artist Community 9 10.2% 5 8.3% Artist Community 16 18.2% 11 18.3%Artist Economy 4 4.5% 4 6.7% Artist Economy 2 2.3% 1 1.7% Artist Economy 10 11.4% 8 13.3%Bikeways 1 1.1% 0 0.0% Bikeways 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Bikeways 1 1.1% 1 1.7%Black Dog 9 10.2% 7 11.7% Black Dog 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Black Dog 0 0.0% 0 0.0%Construction 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Construction 11 12.5% 7 11.7% Construction 0 0.0% 0 0.0%Farmer's Market 9 10.2% 8 13.3% Farmer's Market 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Farmer's Market 4 4.5% 2 3.3%Festivals 3 3.4% 2 3.3% Festivals 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Festivals 6 6.8% 3 5.0%Gallery Space 4 4.5% 3 5.0% Gallery Space 2 2.3% 2 3.3% Gallery Space 17 19.3% 12 20.0%Gathering Spaces 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Gathering Spaces 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Gathering Spaces 5 5.7% 4 6.7%Green Space 3 3.4% 4 6.7% Green Space 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Green Space 4 4.5% 3 5.0%Growth 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Growth 9 10.2% 7 11.7% Growth 0 0.0% 0 0.0%Identity/Image 7 8.0% 5 8.3% Identity/Image 20 22.7% 14 23.3% Identity/Image 23 26.1% 16 26.7%Large Events 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Large Events 2 2.3% 2 3.3% Large Events 6 6.8% 5 8.3%Nightlife 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Nightlife 2 2.3% 2 3.3% Nightlife 6 6.8% 6 10.0%Parking 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Parking 24 27.3% 13 21.7% Parking 8 9.1% 4 6.7%Public Art 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Public Art 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Public Art 3 3.4% 2 3.3%River 4 4.5% 3 5.0% River 0 0.0% 1 1.7% River 0 0.0% 0 0.0%Safety 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Safety 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Safety 4 4.5% 4 6.7%Skyway 1 1.1% 1 1.7% Skyway 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Skyway 0 0.0% 0 0.0%Stores/Services 6 6.8% 4 6.7% Stores/Services 5 5.7% 3 5.0% Stores/Services 13 14.8% 9 15.0%Street Life/Design 13 14.8% 9 15.0% Street Life/Design 5 5.7% 4 6.7% Street Life/Design 6 6.8% 4 6.7%Theatre/Venues 1 1.1% 1 1.7% Theatre/Venues 2 2.3% 3 5.0% Theatre/Venues 6 6.8% 4 6.7%Transport Options 1 1.1% 1 1.7% Transport Options 2 2.3% 1 1.7% Transport Options 5 5.7% 1 1.7%

Work Environment 7 8.0% 3 5.0%Work Environment 3 3.4% 2 3.3%

Work Environment 3 3.4% 3 5.0%

Youth Resources 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Youth Resources 1 1.1% 1 1.7% Youth Resources 2 2.3% 1 1.7% ALL = 88 responses; LIVE/WORK = 60 who either live or work in LT (meaning 28 respondents neither live nor work in LT)

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SORTING DATA BYCATEGORY EXPLANATION

Affordability Affordability, unstable artist live and work spaceArt Center Arts/community center, destination arts attraction, artist

resourcesArt Crawl ---Art Resources Resources and support (to develop themselves, their

businesses, support from the city)Artist Community Engagement and organizing within Lowertown community

(among artists and beyond)Artist Economy Understanding artists as assets and entrepreneursBikeways ---Black Dog ---Construction ---Farmer¹s Market ---Festivals ---Gallery Space More places to show art and see art-- storefronts, galleries,

market, museum (includes public art)Gathering Space ---Green Space ---Growth Growth and development of Lowertown, concerns about

gentrificationIdentity and Image Visibility for artists, image of Lowertown, sleepy St. Paul,

insular, not innovativeLarge Events Regional ballpark, congestionNightlife ---Parking ---River Connection ---Skyway ---Stores/Services Grocery store, food co-op, pharmacy and other needed

services, art supplies storeStreet Life/Design Neighborhood Feel, walkability, architectureTheatre/Venues No theater or performance venueTransport Options Better transportation optionsWork Environment Quality work environment and spacesYouth Resources Better schools, events for young people

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TOP PRIORITIES

OVERALL INTEREST LEVELS WHETHER LIKE, DISLIKE, OR WANT

1. Artist community: like (65), dislike (17), want (10) = 92 (high like, but mixed)2. Identity and Image: like (7), dislike (20), want (23) = 50 (spread, high dislike)3. Affordability: like (15), dislike (12), want (16) = 43 (very mixed)4. Parking: like (0), dislike (24), want (8) = 32 (greatest dislike, moderate want)5. Possible cluster related to making a living – artist economy, crawl, galleries, events,

festivals, resources, venues = 120

TOP 5 FOR EACH OF THREE MAIN QUESTIONS

Like About Lowertown1. Artist Community2. Art Crawl3. Art Resources4. Affordability5. Street Life/Design

Dislike About Lowertown1. Parking2. Identity & Image3. Affordability4. Construction5. Artist Community

Would Like To Have In Lowertown1. Identity & Image3. Gallery Space3. Artist Community (tie)4. Affordability5. Stores & Services

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LOWERTOWN ARTS & CREATIVE COMMUNITY SURVEYSAMPLE RESPONSES TO THREE MAIN QUESTIONS (in addition to 3 questions about art form, where they live, and where they work):

4. What is good about being an artist in Lowertown? How does being in Lowertown support you as an artist or member of the creative community.

5. What is NOT good about being an artist in Lowertown. How does being in Lowertown NOT support you as an artist or member of the creative community?

6. Please name the one or two most important things you would like to see happen in Lowertown that could drastically transform the artist and creative community for the better.

I am seeing the neighborhood change to become less artist friendly, buildings going condo, property taxes rising, increased traffic congestion, businesses moving in that has nothing to do with perpetuating the arts community. I believe that Northeast Minneapolis is doing a spectacular job treating their creative community with respect and ease of use - affordable houses, low rents, cool neat local businesses, small time theaters.

******

Find ways to cross-fertilize with the broader creative community, foster innovation, incubate new ideas and businesses, create leaders. Create a great park, bigger than a square block or at least make it more natural. Give us places to learn new things: languages, cooking, even the arts, like the ballet school but for adults, lecture series, etc.

******

The income cap at the artist co-ops is brutal. I looked at a one-bedroom at the Tilsner which costs almost $900/month. In order to qualify I had to make less than $37,500/year. That kind of constraint makes it very difficult for an artist to live with any sort of flexibility.

******

I left my studio in the Northwestern Building because, when I added what I was paying for studio space with what I was paying for parking, I was able to obtain twice as much space, with free parking, for that money elsewhere.

******

Their appears to be a disconnect between artists and other residents (in terms of little visible interaction). I'd like to know if that is true and if so, can it be changed?

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These several blocks where artists and others live and work is not unlike a farm community of a half century ago. People work together, look out for one another and help when and where they can. It is a feeling of solidarity that I have not felt in other parts of the Twin Cities that I have lived in, or even other parts of the country.

******

I would've liked more informal hangouts, more cheap eats and affordable cafes. I was a fellow at the Playwrights' Center and the commute, especially at night, was a bit grueling. I would have loved an express bus to downtown Minneapolis. I would've liked more actual tangible bulletin boards and more online bulletin boards, more ways to know about and connect with what was going on in the community and with community political issues. I needed a walking distance source of good cheap vegetables, maybe a bakery? A local stationary or hardware store. I'd like things to have been less car-dependent, have it be a more walkable, self-sufficient neighborhood. I would've enjoyed more community gardens…an art supply store, Hmong or Vietnamese restaurant, music venues--creating a lively walkable street presence in Lowertown.

******

What was supposed to be artist friendly rents are suddenly increasing, forcing one to find non-artistic work to pay the bills.

******

Really, the principle reason I left Downtown St. Paul was to have green grass and, to be honest, LESS dog poop everywhere. That doesn't have anything to do with my artistic practice, but was a quality of life issue for me. I sometimes felt that the City of St. Paul liked to brag about the Lowertown artist community…but they really didn't perceive the community as an ongoing asset and foster its reputation as an artist live/work destination. To some degree this probably kept rent low so that artist could afford to remain here even as other people moved in.

******

Invite us to the table- to be part of the discussion and vision for this place. Help put to rest the impression that artists are unstable wackos that refuse to conform. That non-conformity part can actually be a virtue when you need new solutions to intractable problems. I'd love to see people clamouring to get a spot in Lowertown, because it is such a hotbed of ideas. I wish the City and businesses made it part of their modus operandi to have creatives at the table. Now I will grant that some of my tribe are indeed kinda wacky and wouldn't be the best choices for this fusion, but many of us are self employed entrepreneurs.

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Leave Lowertown alone! It doesn't need your help - it needs your absence. This is the only part of St. Paul that isn't dead. It is the only part of St. Paul that is thriving. The city and blindly ambitious people keep making serious mistakes that will tear this area to shreds. Never before have I seen the gentrification of an urban area championed by the city itself. Lowertown thrives because, 20+ years ago, a bunch of artists came in and turned a bombed out area around. Because St. Paul is so slow to change (if at all) this area has changed very little in attitude and spirit - until recently. The addition of new condos and restaurants is bringing in an entirely new type of resident to Lowertown. Residents who don't share that creative spirit. Residents who simply don't care. The heart of Lowertown will be nothing but a parking garage for trains. It will hurt us all - all but the new yuppies who will be living in their shiny new condos that no artists can afford. On top of that is the prospect of a baseball stadium that would reduce this area to nothing more than a littered row of sports bars. Lowertown is a gem, pure and beautiful, it needs NO embellishments - lest all that you love about it will be unrecognizable in a matter of a few years, and the artists will be gone.

******

I like being part of an artists' community--my neighbors are always up to something: working on a new piece, getting ready for a show, etc. It contributes to a creative vibe in the community that is almost tangible. Being part of an artists' community also provides great opportunities for artistic collaboration and creative cross pollination. Also, it is not uncommon for artists in my building (Northern Warehouse) to loan and/or donate equipment and materials to other artists in the community. As far as what is specifically good about being in Lowertown: A) The St. Paul Art Crawl and all the exposure/opportunity that comes with it and B) the space I live in is much less expensive than a comparable space in Minneapolis would be.

******

I feel that having the creative community present at the table during discussions involving the rapid change/growth in Lowertown is vitally important. Whatever we can do to reduce a feeling of powerlessness regarding neighborhood development would be a good thing. We need to feel that inclusion of the creative community in big decisions is not a token gesture, but born of a genuine interest in our feedback and an underlying belief that we have, can, and do make valuable contributions. Assistance with assessing our strengths and weaknesses as a community, learning how to speak with a common voice, and generally advocate for ourselves could be very helpful.

******

My biggest hope is that the artist community will not be destroyed/dispersed because of the light rail coming through. That is to say, I hope the rent stays reasonable and that the access to good space remains as it is.

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There is increasing pressure to dissolve the cooperatives (Lowertown Lofts excepted, as they own their space), and an insistence upon developing condominiums and high priced dining spaces. I have met an astonishing number of people who live in these condos who have never been to the Art Crawl or a Lowertown First Friday, or a concert at studio Z or the Nautilus Music Theatre, and so on. These people bring nothing to Lowertown which can't already be found in a hundred flashy developments all around the country; if support and priority is not given to artists, most of whom will never make the kind of money living in expensive apartments and condos requires, Lowertown may still end up looking good, but it will lose the qualities which make it unique in St. Paul.

******

I would like to see the public coming to Lowertown to experience and support the art community on a regular basis, visiting galleries and shows, coming out to hear a concert, whatever their interest is. If the community is going to thrive we need the public and if they are going to show up it has to be fun.

******

I feel a little disconnected from MPLS. They get a lot of press. I am new to downtown Saint Paul again. I lived in Northern Warehouse for a few years a while back. I am really great at promotion so I have some good ideas about how to get people to stand up and take notice of the St. Paul community. I had this idea a while ago. Get each business to sponsor an artist. It could be a visiting artist thing. Especially the big businesses. It would be a way for the business to get some press, the artist to get some $$, and the community in the building where the business lives would experience art on a daily basis and learn how important it is. I did this at the Foshay Tower and it has been hugely successful.

******I've been a part of the LowerTown artist community since the 70's and I've watched it slowly being gobbled up by the developers and gentrified to the point where it's now difficult to afford to live/work there. I'm afraid that we're already following Minneapolis' lead in ridding our fair city's warehouse district of it's pesky artists. Just take a moment to count how many of us have fled to Dayton's Bluff or N.E. Mpls. in just the last year, it's alarming.

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