Delray Beach - Florida Redevelopment Association

If you build it…and keep building it….
and wait a decade or so…
they will come.
Demographics
2010 Population – 60,500
White –
66%
Black –
28 %
Hispanic – 10%
Per Capita Income - $36,600
Median HH Income - $49,750
Median Value of Owner Occ.
Housing - $260K
Home Ownership Rate – 67%
Delray Beach is one of 38 municipalities in Palm Beach
County. It occupies approximately 16 square miles
1930’s and 1940’s -- Delray Beach was a
winter home for writers and artists
Nationally known cartoonists Fontaine
Fox (Toonerville Trolley) W.E. Pat Enright
(political cartoonist), H.T. Webster
(Casper Milquetoast cartoons)

Downtown fell victim to suburbanization

Many vacant lots, blighted buildings --35-40% vacant storefronts

Deteriorated infrastructure

Inappropriate uses and depressed property values

No nightlife or downtown housing - “Dull-ray”

Delray Beach was not competitive with neighboring cities
Conditions led to the creation of the CRA in 1985
 CRA District approx. 2,000 acres (1/5 of
City) - older sections of City
 Governed by 7-member volunteer board,
appointed by City Commission
Visions 2000 -Citywide visioning exercise in 1988
– major emphasis on downtown revitalization
Initial efforts concentrated on beautification of
Atlantic Avenue – Delray’s “main street”—
extends about 1.5 miles from I-95 to the beach
Old School Square: private – public funded
restoration of elementary and high school
campus in center of town to arts & culture
facility
Several art galleries took space on Atlantic
Avenue--collaborated on promotions but no
comprehensive effort to market Delray as arts
destination
Pineapple Grove Arts District
Early 1990’s, property owners and area residents approached the
City with idea to create the Pineapple Grove Arts District as a way
to revitalize this part of the downtown.
Artists are pioneers in gentrification of urban areas
 Generally individuals or small, independent start-up firms that
require affordable, flexible workspaces, short-term leases
 Willing to settle marginal urban areas with affordable rents
 Drawn to particular urban forms including historic warehouses
offering open flexible spaces, live/work spaces, and structures
with architectural detail
 Attracted to areas with diverse mix of uses that provide for
frequent interactions with social and professional networks
Americans for the Arts
2012 study on Arts and Economic Prosperity
The Art & Culture Industry:
Generates $135.2 billion of economic activity (down from $166 billion in 2005)
• $61.1 billion by the nation's nonprofit arts and culture organizations
• $74.1 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences.
Supports 4.13 million full-time jobs, $86.68 billion in resident household income.
$22.3 billion in revenue to local, state, and federal governments every year
(yield well beyond their collective $4 billion in arts allocations).
Spending by arts audiences pumps vital revenue into the local economy.
Patrons pay for parking, eat at restaurants, shop in stores, stop for dessert on
the way home.
Average expenditure of $24.60 per attendee (in addition to event ticket).
Nonlocals spend more than twice as much as locals ($39.96 vs. $17.42).

“Pineapple Grove Main Street”
501 (c)(3) was formed even
though Atlantic Avenue was
Delray’s recognized “main
street”.

Pineapple Grove Main Street was
originally a membership
organization and collected dues

They placed a high priority on
physical improvements to the
area
Assets:
Mixed-use area with residential, commercial
and light industrial uses “eclectic” – appeals
to artists
Several historic structures, unique character
Cheaper rents than Atlantic Avenue

“Pineapple Grove” followed
Florida Main Street Program
formula (“DOPE”: DesignOrganization-Promotion-Economic
Restructuring); received $10,000
training grant from State.

City and CRA contributed funds for
Main Street Manager position; CRA
also provided administrative
services for several years.

Local architectural firm
volunteered services – designed
streetscape to create a unique
sense of place.
“Pineapple” reference
derived from area’s
agricultural past, also
symbol of welcome
“Pineapple Grove Way” -Four Block Area:
Traffic Calming – Raised Paver Roundabouts
Paver Brick Crosswalks & Sidewalks
Decorative Lighting & Banners
$2.1 million cost -Shared one third each:
City: Utility & Drainage Funds
CRA: TIF Revenues
Property Owners: Special Assessment District
Archway located one-half
block off of Atlantic Avenue
 Lit at night to attract
pedestrian traffic
 Designed and funded by PGMS
organization
“Pineapple Grove”
added to street signs
2007
528-space parking garage on
Pineapple Grove Way; includes
17,000 sq. ft. commercial space
on ground floor
2009
1.5-acre park adjacent to Old
School Square Cultural Arts
campus – helps connect
Pineapple Grove to downtown’s
music and art venues
Pineapple Grove
Main Street
Boundary
Pineapple Grove
Way Boundary
CRA Projects
CRA Grants
Art Walk Installations spearheaded by Pineapple Grove Main Street board
Funded in part with $75,000 grant from Palm Beach County
Other pieces provided on loan from various artists
Pineapple Mural at Atlantic Avenue and Pineapple Grove Way


Artwalk- art installations and murals
Delray Pineapple – privately owned
community newspaper
Signature Special Events
• Annual Bed Race
• Take it Easel
• Art & Craft Shows
Key zoning changes and design guidelines include:
 Reduction in open space requirements from 10% to 0%
 Reduction in parking requirements
 Residential buildings fronting on PG Way – ground floor
must be commercial
 Increased residential densities
 “Floribbean” style architecture
 PGMS Board reviews proposals for development in area
City Walk - 2007
40 residential units
Ground floor retail and
restaurants
Cannery Row
North end of district—82
townhouses currently
under construction
Replaced strip shopping
center
Pineapple Village
160 units
Pineapple Village
New Construction,
Renovated
Businesses Along
Pineapple Grove Way
Art included on ground floor of condo building (parking level)
and on the construction fence
Restaurants, shops
capitalize on
Pineapple Grove’s
new image
Sun-Sentinel.com Restaurant Review
Max's Harvest: Farm-fresh in Delray --Dennis Max's
latest restaurant lives off the land.
“….Nestled in Delray Beach’s trendy
Pineapple Grove district”
By mid 2000’s Pineapple Grove area had
established an identity as an “artsy” area separate
and apart from Atlantic Avenue, but did not
actually have much in the way of established art &
culture venues (studios, galleries, etc.)
 Artists and gallery owners on Atlantic Avenue
questioned use of “Arts District” title for
Pineapple Grove area – felt the whole downtown
should be labeled an “Arts District”
 As the recession lingered, CRA looked at
increasing its investment in arts as a way to
generate economic activity

Program Included in 2009 Amendment to CRA Plan
Objectives:
 Continued revitalization and stabilization of the
downtown and surrounding neighborhoods through
promotion of art and cultural activities and institutions.
 Promote cultural tourism by enhancing Delray Beach‘s
identity as a community of culture and the arts--one that
is “creative, authentic, and intimate” (from City’s 2006
Cultural Plan)
 Help ensure access to the arts for all ages, ethnicities,
and physical ability
 Create jobs and promote economic development
CRA initial steps to implement program:

CRA purchased 15,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Pineapple Grove to
be converted to arts facility and leased retail space in ground
floor of garage to establish arts venues

Partnered with City’s non-profit cultural organization Creative
City Collaborative to assist in planning for the arts venues. CCC
was being administered out of City Manager’s office; limited
resources to implement City’s Cultural Plan.

Hired staff to begin working on these initiatives
Creative City Collaborative, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization created to build the
cultural infrastructure that celebrates
Delray Beach as a creative, authentic, and
intimate City, is tasked with implementing
the City’s cultural plan, adopted by the City
Commission in 2006 and CRA Plan’s Arts
Based Economic Development
MISSION
To build and promote the
cultural community that
celebrates Delray Beach
VISION
To be the instrument for Delray
Beach to be the international
cultural destination for patrons
and artists
 15,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Pineapple Grove purchased by CRA
 Could include galleries, studio space, multi-discipline
performing venue (black-box theater), educational space, etc.
 Study underway to determine use of the space, renovation
and operating budget, and funding plan
BUIILDING THE FOUNDATION
OF THE ARTS WAREHOUSE

Commercial space in city parking garage leased by CRA in conjunction with CCC

Became available when prospective Artists Guild tenant backed out of sublease

Instead of finding another third-party tenant, CRA and CCC teamed up to convert
the space into a multi-disciplinary cultural hub for performers, musicians, visual
arts, theater professionals and arts educators
A Cultural hub in
the heart of
Delray Beach
ARTS GARAGE
Primary Goals
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Build Public Awareness
Grow Loyal Audiences
Create a Fundraising Base
Serve as an Economic Engine
Develop and Implement
Community Collaborations
The Making of Arts Garage
Immediate Needs:
• Furnishings
• Programming
• Audience
• Opening Event
John McEnroe
Opens the Doors to
Arts Garage
Event held in collaboration with annual
International Tennis Championship held
in Delray Beach
Furnishings: Making Lemonade
Donated Tables & Chairs =
Cabaret type seating
No liquor license/kitchen facility =
Bring your own whatever
No Curtains =
Build movable walls that also serve as
gallery exhibition walls, wings, light
lock
EVOLUTION…..
“Official” Opening
• Collaborated with Jazzonian, Inc.
• Ed Bell, WLRN (local NPR station)
• Featured legendary Melton Mustafa
Jazz Project
• Federico Britos, five-time
Grammy award winner
• Ed Calle, two-time Latin
Grammy award winner
• Ira Sullivan
• Nicole Henry
• Ted Rosenthal
Over 50 Jazz Performances
Classical Explosion
Collaborations with:
• South Florida Symphony
Orchestra
• Delray String Quartet
• Palm Beach Opera
THEATRE AT ARTSGARAGE
Close of Florida Stage
Engaged its Founder, Lou Tyrrell
Featured 2 play season inaugural
season
3 play season FY 13 season
New Play Readings
New Play Fest
Educational Outreach Program
Signature Series
Jazz Project (Jazz)
Classical Explosion (Classical Music)
Divas in Art (Female Impersonators)
Urban Underground (Hip Hop)
The Theatre at Arts Garage (Theater)
Garage Blues (Blues)
Global Invasion (International)
Shades of Soul (Soul/Gospel)
Arts Garage Presents (Up and Coming)
Visual Art Exhibitions
Day Time
Activities
at Arts Garage
The educational team at Arts
Garage is a unique combination of
degreed educators and
professionals with many years of
teaching and performing
experience.
Numerous scholarships offered
during our seven summer camp
sessions
Here what parents are saying about us…
“Drew Tucker and his team are wonderful educators of students… as well as parents…”
“Wonderful staff; the locale is beautiful, clean and well set up…”
“My daughter wants to come back to their camps every year, she LOVED it…”
Education
Outreach
Arts Education in Schools
Hundreds of
children from
Achievement
Center,
Milagro Center
and
Santaluces High
School
attend free play
performance
Education Outreach
Arts Education in schools
Pieces of Me
• Students attended free
performance of play based on
Woodie Guthrie’s life
• Participating students wrote
original monologues, reflecting a
spectrum of issues that have
affected their personal lives
• Student monologues were selected
and became the script for a student
production: Pieces of Me.
• The student-playwrights revised
their work in workshops and
rehearsals
• Program culminated in student
performance presented on the Arts
Garage stage
Community Collaborations
• South Florida Symphony
Orchestra
• Palm Beach Opera
• Delray String Quartet
• Milagro Center
• Achievement Center
• Santaluces High School
• Voices of Pride
• Alliance Francaise
• CJ Foundation
• Sun Flower Creative Arts
• Leadership Delray
• Realtors Commercial Alliance
of Palm Beaches
• TED Center
• YPOD
• Make A Wish Foundation
• Page Turner Adventures
• Aurora Voices
• Chamber of Commerce
• FAU
• Lynn University
• Sunset House
• O Dance
Awareness
"The most diverse and avant-garde art
incubator in the county"
Palm Beach
Illustrated, August 2012
AWARENESS & the MEDIA
" What everyone is saying is true: The Arts Garage in Delray Beach is
one of the best new things to hit the town ” - Boca Magazine
" When the Arts Garage opened in Delray Beach earlier this year, its
executive director, Alyona Ushe, predicted that it would quickly
become a community incubator of eclecticism and artistic freedom.
This weekend we get a dose of precisely what she meant. ” - Sun
Sentinel
" Clearly meeting a local appetite for live entertainment, the series
(Jazz Project at Arts Garage) has sold out every concert since it
began in April. ” - Palm Beach Post
AWARENESS & the MEDIA
"To check out her (Olivia de la Garza) concert at 8 pm Saturday at
Arts Garage, sight unseen an sound unheard, is to trust the venue's
judgment in showcasing talent from around the world and around
the corner—and so far, it hasn't failed."-- 8/30-9/5 Miami New Times
Voted by Cultural Council of Palm
Beach County members as one of top
ten destination in the county
(facebook survey)
Selected as on of five organizations by
the Knight Foundation (Miami) to be
among five up-and-coming arts
organization to compete for $20,000
people’s choice award
Creative City Collaborative Budget and Growth
Approximately 14,000 patrons attended performances at Arts
Garage in past 12 months
Americans for the Arts Economic Prosperity Calculator:
Arts Garage budget FY 11/12 -- $735,292 translates to a financia
impact of
 $1,019,632 in total expenditures (by organization and
audience)
 35.1 Full Time Equivalent jobs
 $790,275 contributed to household incomes
 $40,556 contributed to local government revenues
 $46,355 contributed to state government revenues
What is Artists Alley? – a
subarea of Pineapple Grove
An alley that is often flooded with rain water
An area that has welcomed 100 – 200 visitors
per month since January 2012
A group of individuals who have invested
their time and financial resources
to build and market the area
An authentic and thriving colony of artists
working together to inspire artistic expression,
incubate new artists, create innovative artwork
and enrich the destination through
engagement in the arts.
Artists’ Temporary Plan for
Arts Warehouse and other
buildings in Artists Alley

Branding, Branding, Branding—if you say it enough times
it’ll stick

Capitalize on grassroots support …follow the momentum

The arts can be an effective catalyst for economic
development

Public investment in property & infrastructure sends a
positive message to private investors

Update city ordinances to be consistent with the vision

Have a long-term vision and commitment… and patience
Visions can become reality!