West Street Arts District Proposed

Today's Capital discusses a proposal by the Mayor to create an arts and entertainment overlay zone along the West Street corridor, from Monticello Avenue to Chinquapin Round Road. If created, the district would exempt arts venues from local amusement and admission taxes, and would provide tax breaks to developers building affordable spaces for artists to live and work in.

The idea is certainly one worth considering, but more importantly, this is one of the early volleys in the upcoming battle for the future of West Street. The first, arguably, having been the conversion of the Johnson Lumber site to the mixed use 1901 West St complex.

Now, the area between West Gate Circle and Chinquapin Round Road is largely comprised of eyesores: dumpy retail, car dealerships, and more car dealerships. There are some residential and formerly residential commercial (e.g., law offices) units along the stretch as well.

The biggest challenge is going to be to get the Hyundai, Scion/Toyota, Acura, Honda, Dodge, and Jeep dealerships to trade their prime pavement for the opportunity to cash in on loft condos. This zoning change, perhaps, represents an opportunity to make the economics of such a move a bit more favorable for developers.

It's a shift that is going to draw the ire of some, but because of its location and proximity to infrastructure, is likely to occur in time, with or without the tax breaks.

Smart Growth, Annapolis Style

An interesting piece in the Post about the infill development going in behind the Annapolis post office on Church Circle.

Go West

While a part of me will be saddened to see the former Capital property developed, it's one of the few strips of green left on West Street in Annapolis, another part of me realizes it's probably for the best. A Virginia-based developer intends to build 63 condos and 7 single-family homes on the 2-acre ($2.5 million) site. Additionally, at least 7 of the condos will be "affordable housing" units, as a result of the City's recent passage of an affordable housing law [pdf].

Inner West Street is really blossoming, and it's an exciting prospect. Several historic houses were preserved at West Village, and have now been converted into live/work buildings, with rental housing perched above salons, boutiques, and a coming restaurant. The Park Place development, an enormous project, is underway, and will likely serve as a jewel on Westgate Circle. And, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the corridor follows suit. It's been a near model partnership between local entrepeneurs and city government, to save historical charm, promote local business, and encourage dense (and in at least a few instances, affordable) housing where it should be, in our urban areas, where infrastructure exists, and vital services (e.g., libraries, buses, restaurants) are just a short walk away. Kudos to those who have made this delicate dance work.