Presentation at 4MRV Working Group Jeffrey Zeeman Arlington - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presentation at 4MRV Working Group

Jeffrey Zeeman Arlington Commission for the Arts

Creation of official Arts District along several full blocks of South Four Mile Run Drive

• Maintain / enhance some compatible existing uses: Inner Ear Studio, 3700

building, brewery, AFAC. DMV music history venue adjoining studio?

• Convert old Signature Theater building and warehouse on Oakland Street

to arts spaces with distinct character, including second, larger black box theater and gallery spaces (or tear down/rebuild)

• Potential acquisition, in long-term, of big warehouse space adjacent to

Jennie Dean and conversion to artist live/work space? Or new construction

• f artist live-work spaces elsewhere in area
• Combination of County acquisitions and developer incentives
• Additional restaurant/bar/cafe venues to complement arts venues

Preserve and enhance the 3700 building for exclusive use by Arlington arts organizations

• Potentially move parks offices in building to another site to create

more permanent space for arts organizations and arts frontage on S. Four Mile Run Dr.

• Possible expansion of building to encompass full second floor
• Improved signage and ingress/egress to building – transform exterior

into an obvious arts space

• Renovation / expansion of Theater on the Run
• Public art in, on, and around building
• Satisfy the need for permanent, stable, dedicated office, rehearsal

and performance space for Arlington arts organizations

Concentrate public art in 4MRV area

• County Public Art Master Plan identified 4MRV as a “high priority” for

public art projects. See p. 56.

• Establish a mural district (e.g., massive mural on storage building
• verlooking Jennie Dean, encourage murals on other light-industrial

facades)

• Integrate public art within “passive” areas of Jennie Dean
• Add public art along the river / path adjacent to the stream, referencing /

integrating natural environment

• Public art accessible for AFAC and dog park users
• Consider a signature, very prominent "Arlington" (or 4MRV-themed)

welcome sign / sculptural element?

Improved infrastructure – but maintain light industrial feel of area

• Parking! -- but be creative in designing parking structure
• Enhanced public transit (including shuttle service from metros?)
• Clear, welcoming, aesthetically-inventive signage and street furniture
• Install sidewalks and lighting to make the area walkable
• Bike racks -- also artist designed – and bike paths
• County facade / signage grants for businesses that remain?
• Better visual and physical links to existing Shirlington arts facilities –

prominent and readily-visible bridge(s) over the stream and appealing pedestrian pathways linking to bridge on both sides of stream

Additional thoughts

• Flexible outdoor amphitheater space for musical performances

and/or screen-on-the-green in Jennie Dean or elsewhere

• Streetscape and potentially some green space that is readily

convertible for outdoor arts festivals

• ABC Distributors Lumber Center building – potential artist gallery /

work space for future expansion of district and link to Nauck?

• 24-7 activation of this part of Four Mile Run via a few residential

buildings, ideally artist live-work space or other artist-friendly housing, plus commercial venues that are open into the evening

Benefits

• Meets County need for expanded and enhanced arts venues and

practice/office spaces, which has become critical following closure of Artisphere

• Only area of Arlington with possibility for creating an arts district with

critical mass needed to succeed – builds on existing prominent arts facilities in area (Signature Theater, movie theater, 3700 building, etc.)

• Industrial character of area is uniquely suited for arts conversion. No other

section of Arlington features this type of intrinsically artist-friendly physical environment, or will allow for wildly creative construction and public art

• Transform this area of Arlington into a true destination rather than feeling

like an afterthought – proximity to highway is a major plus

• Complements and enhances existing uses (Jennie Dean, dog park, AFAC,

brewery) – a synergistic relationship with the rest of the valley