Policy Idea: An Artful Revitalization of Over-The-Rhine

As an aspiring orchestral musician, I absolutely love having a world-class orchestra a few miles from my apartment. What I DON'T like is worrying about whether or not I'm going to be mugged when I walk back to my car after the performance (that is, assuming my car is still there and hasn't been stolen or vandalized). Music Hall, along with countless other arts venues, is located in Cincinnati's historic Over-The-Rhine district (OTR). Though once a thriving community, OTR has greatly diminished in quality and quantity over the years. According to the OTR Chamber of Commerce website, here are some quick facts about OTR:

-OTR has approximately 7,000 residents. At one time, over 50,000 people lived there.
-OTR has about 500 vacant buildings, 2500 vacant units and 700 vacant lots available for repopulation and renovation.
-The picture below is a map of OTR. If you're anything like me, I had no idea it was so big.

Though its past vitality and historic qualities should not be discounted, the truth is that OTR is largely seedy, unsafe, rundown and unattractive. The city of Cincinnati is fully aware of this, and implemented a revitalization plan in 2002. Though this plan is quite comprehensive, the last public update of the plan's progress was in 2006. That's right: 5 years ago. Though Cincinnati still swears that the progress is ongoing, the results have been few and far between over the past several years. How can we fix this problem, you ask? Why, let the arts take over, of course!

The revitalization plan from 2002 included some arts restoration/revitalization, but not much. Once again, there have been no updates to the plan since 2006, so it's hard to say exactly what has been implemented as far as the arts go. I go to parts of OTR pretty regularly (to go to the symphony of course, but mostly to go to my favorite eco-friendly vegan store, Park + Vine), and the only change that has been visible to me is the addition of a few hipster-trendy stores and some brightly painted buildings (see picture on right for reference). As such an artsy city, I'm sure that Cincinnati's arts scene could be doing more to help both OTR and the arts thrive. But who will show us the way? Enter the greatest city in the world: San Francisco, California.

San Fran was recently featured in the NEA's Artworks blog for it's ARTery project. According to the San Francisco Arts Commission's Director of Cultural Affairs Luis R. Cancel, the ARTery project is "a new initiative aimed at revitalizing a blighted and largely vacant stretch of the Central-Market corridor into a nationally-celebrated cultural destination". (Blighted and largely-vacant? Ringing any bells, Cincinnatians?) Strategies of the project are as follows:

-Activating vacant storefronts with local artists' installations that address community issues and history

-Expanding the programming of performing arts organzations that have long been tenants of this area, with emphasis on sidewalk cultural activities and exhibition openings

-Placing large-scale sculptures out on the sidewalk for urban, interactive arts experience

-Providing free music during daytime hours

-Instituting an "Indy Arts Market"

Goals of this plan include bringing in more foot traffic, increasing economic activity in the area, and activating the street with cultural activities. For more information about this plan, go here.

When asked why it is important to consider the arts when attempting to revitalize a community, Cancel replied as follows:

The arts have always been at the forefront of neighborhood transformation, and thereby revitalization. Not only are artists resourceful problem solvers and partners, historically it is their efforts to move into affordable neighborhoods where they can do their work in market rate spaces (or below) that inevitably transforms the neighborhood and its economy, clearing the path for more business activity, more people and more revenue. It is artists that make a neighborhood change from undesirable to a coveted locale. Tying these two points together, the arts are a presence in virtually every marginal neighborhood in San Francisco. NOT having the arts at the table would be cutting them out of a community process of which they are primary stakeholders.

This man is a genius. I propose that Cincinnati follow the lead of a greater city, and implement its own ARTery-esque project in OTR.