In a recent piece titled “Urban Entertainment Districts: Blocks Where No One Has Fun,” Salon writer Will Doig describes how cities are desperately trying to create “downtown cool.”
The problem, though, is their “downtown cool” districts end up being hyper-planned vacuums of dullness. Sometimes, you can’t just up and create the culture residents thrive in one full swoop… it needs to come organically, from multiple players. Much like Gordon Square Arts District. Instead of one planner trying to create something cool, a group of nonprofits came together to create our beloved, growing arts district. It’s authentic. And it’s being noticed.
Check out the article here.
One Response to “Salon: Do we have dull entertainment districts?”
Sean Watterson
It actually took a group of non-profits, along with for-profit businesses, like 78th Street Studios, Luxe, The Happy Dog, Stone Mad, the Parkview, Wall Eye Gallery, Spice Kitchen + Bar and others to grow GSAD into a destination. The non-profits are a great anchor, but GSAD would not be where it is without the small businesses that were there, opened there, or moved there, too.