For those interested...
Oregon Arts District plan unveiled
By Terry Morris
Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
DAYTON — Dr. Michael Ervin not only wants to see the city's Oregon Historic District evolve into a compactversion of the artsy-eclectic Short North area in Columbus, he's willing to spend $250,000 of his money tomake it happen.His vision for a "high-density mixed-use urban village" began to take shape Tuesday when the City of Dayton,CityWide Development Corp., Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Oregon District announced the newOregon Arts District.The city committed $850,000 to improve and expand free parking in the neighborhood and several of thegalleries, artist studios and businesses that are moving in were identified.Ervin, a former chairman of the downtown partnership who owns a home in the neighborhood, said hiscontribution will subsidize rental fees for artists, hire a director for the arts district and pay for the consultingservices of the New York firm PPS (Project for Public Spaces).Homeowner and business associations haven't always agreed about developments in the neighborhood, butrepresentatives for both groups expressed strong support for a plan that will address longstanding concernsabout accessible parking and a proliferation of liquor licenses."In one fell swoop, these galleries have created a whole new category of businesses to go with ourindependently owned restaurants, taverns and offices," said Tom Tornatore, head of the Oregon DistrictBusiness Association."This is a plan that combines government, people with passion and people with money," said Dayton MayorRhine McLin.Ervin, a retired physician and insurance executive who's spearheading the plan, said up to nine new galleriesand related businesses will open by mid-spring."We're looking beyond visual arts. A holistic medicine center is among others who have expressed interestabout coming in," he said.
Dayton artist Mike Elsass, who was Ervin's fraternity brother at Ohio University and has helped coordinate theplan, will open his Color of Energy gallery in mid-March.Painters Kaye Carlile and Susanne Scherette King said their Link Gallery, which hosted Tuesday'sannouncement about the district, is among three moving side by side into a former vintage clothing store onEast Fifth Street."We could never have done this without the subsidized rent and money for improvements," King said. "Theenergy behind this project has also been crucial."Jimmy Kitz, who sells art and furniture in his Jimmy Modern shop on East Fifth Street, opened in the fall beforehe knew anything about an arts district."But that's fine with me. This is going to be great for all of us," he said.Shelley Dickstein, Dayton assistant city manager, said the new district "will leverage one of the city's assets andrevitalize the Oregon District's ability to provide a unique urban experience."CityWide Development director Steve Budd said better and more parking in the neighborhood will be a crucialcomponent.The lot behind the Thai 9 restaurant, Jay's Seafood and Gem City Records, currently a patchwork with sectionsreserved for numerous businesses, will be opened up, graded, landscaped and get new lighting.Ervin pledged to help keep artist rents low even if their presence helps raise property values.Elsass said the following shops and galleries, listed with their featured artists, are currently part of the artsdistrict. Some are still preparing to open.• 510 Gallery, 510 E. Fifth St. Loretta Puncer.• The Link Gallery, 519 E. Fifth St. Kaye Carlile and Susanne Scherette King.• Goloka Gallery, 521 E. Fifth St. Shon Walters.• The Visceral Gallery, 523 E. Fifth St. Francine Riley.• Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St. Jimmy Kitz.• Color of Energy, 16 Brown St. Mike Elsass.• Powers Photography, 300 S. Patterson Blvd.For more information about the Oregon Arts District, call the Downtown Dayton Partnership, (937) 225-1518
