AgdaPkt 2007-11-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1C age 1 November 5, 2007 SUBJECT Right of Entry and License Agreements to Implement Downtown Phantom Gallery Program RECOMMENDATION Grant the Redevelopment Executive Director the authority to enter into right-of-entry and license agreements, in a form substantially equivalent to Attachment 2, with downtown property owners for the "Phantom Galleries Program" and other promotional opportunities. BACKGROUND Tremendous strides have been made in the revitalization of Downtown with the opening of the cinema and other new businesses, the completion of Courthouse Square and the Broadway and Theatre Way streetscape improvements, the summer programming, completion of the Post Office Paseo, and the installation of the Wayfinding and Directional Signage Program currently underway. However, vacant storefronts continue to distract from these accomplishments. In an effort to address this issue until the buildings have tenants, redevelopment staff and Jason Newblanc of the Civic Cultural Commission have been exploring a "Phantom Gallery" Program for Downtown similar to the successful program undertaken by the City of San Jose (See Attachment 1), A contract has been executed with Two Fish Design (2 Fish), the creator of the program in San Jose, to implement such a program in Redwood City and enliven the numerous vacant storefronts in the downtown with creative colorful art exhibits. Program objectives include: · Ease the appearance of blight and curb vandalism · Draw attention to available space for lease · Encourage the community to invest in their district · Encourage surrounding retailers to "spruce up" their spaces · Rely on the creativity of artists to create community and awareness which, in turn, reciprocates to the artist's experience and exposure Emphasizing the recruitment and involvement of local artists, 2 Fish will: · Cultivate and recruit artists for exhibits all year round · Coordinate the usage of vacant storefronts with the independent owners of the buildings · Prepare the site for the artist(s} as usable space · Coordinate proposed exhibits with an appropriate location · Schedule artists for their installations and subsequent removal · Provide human resources/staff (volunteers), tools, to the artists on site · Provide monetary resources to artists that need it for incidentals · Arrange receptions for artists and the general public to meet the exhibiting artists · Market and promote the project