Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to announce that the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development has granted the City’s request to expand its Arts and Entertainment District by almost 13 acres. The expansion brings the total size of the A&E District from 72 acres to 85 acres, and addresses the need for affordable living/working space within the district by growing it westward to include the newly-completed River’s Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts.
The Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) Arts & Entertainment Districts promote smart growth, urban revitalization and job creation by focusing economic development in a specific area centered on creative industry. Since Salisbury received its Maryland Arts & Entertainment Designation in 2007, the district has become the center of an artistic and urban renaissance within the City. To date, 19 new businesses and 5 new restaurants have opened within the district, creating 54 new jobs. The City’s’ wildly successful 3rd Friday celebrations bring thousands to the Plaza monthly to celebrate the arts, while the new 1st Saturday concert series focuses on local, original music. The work and support of the A&E District has been instrumental in bringing projects such as Headquarters Live and the Salisbury University Downtown Art Gallery to fruition.
These successes were celebrated last month when the MSAC presented Salisbury’s Arts & Entertainment District with its annual Outstanding Achievement Award.
“The numerous arts events, festivals, and new space for artists to thrive have made Salisbury A&E District a vibrant community for residents, and an exciting destination for visitors and tourists alike,” said Bill Pencek, Acting Assistant Secretary for Tourism, Film and the Arts at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED).
“Since state designation was granted to the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District in 2007, the City and its partners have made great strides in cooperative downtown revitalization efforts and the arts are an important piece of the economic development puzzle,” said Connie Strott and Lee Whaley, co-chairs of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District. “Expansion of the A&E District immediately addresses the need for affordable artist housing, workspace and performance space, while delivering new partners and more assets and attractions to cooperatively market. We thank Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Mike Gill for approving the city’s application for expansion.”
Looking Forward
Working to build on the District’s success, the A&E District Committee submitted its application and comprehensive plan for expansion to the MSAC in March. The plan expands the western boundary of the District to include the Salisbury Marina and River’s Edge Apartments and Studio for the Arts, and its northern boundary to include the Korean Presbyterian Church, the Langeler Building of the Wicomico Presbyterian Church, Faith Community Church, and portions of the Jeannette P. Chipman Boundless Playground. The northern border of the district will now follow the natural streetscape, remedying several instances of properties (the playground among them) being bisected by the previous boundary.
In 2014, the storefront occupancy rate for the district was 77%, while residential space neared capacity at 97%. With living space in high demand but short supply, the A&E District Committee looked to expand the district westward, to the newly-opened River’s Edge Apartments and Community for the Arts – a multi-story apartment complex which provides an artist-focused living experience, with a communal workspace and gallery.
“It was exciting to move into new, affordable artist live/work space in the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District,” said William Smith, a new resident artist at River’s Edge Apartments & Studio for the Arts. “I look forward to being part of the downtown renaissance and taking advantage of the artist incentives, arts-related events, and cooperative marketing opportunities that the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District offers.”
“We couldn’t be more excited for what the expanded Arts and Entertainment District will bring in the coming years,” said Mayor Ireton. “The rebirth of our Downtown as a vibrant cultural center is due in no small part to the tireless work of Connie Strott and Lee Whaley. I offer my thanks to them, and also to Secretary Gill for approving the expansion.”
For more information on Salisbury’s Arts & Entertainment District, go to www.salisburyarts.com
