During the study session on Feb. 3, city council received an update about the Artspace project and the Neighborhood Participation Program.
Artspace
Alexis Moore, an associate planner with the city, and Bill Marino, chair of the 40 West Arts District, gave the update on the Artspace project, which is in the second phase of completion.
“Artspace is the leading nonprofit for the development of permanent art spaces and Lakewood has a great opportunity here to work with them,” Moore said.
Artspace made its first visit in August and conducted a feasibility study about setting up a live-work space for artists in Lakewood. According to Moore, the visit resulted in the organization highlighting three areas — the revitalization of the West Colfax corridor, establishing a permanent population of artists in the 40 West Arts District and working to create transit-oriented development near the W Rail.
“The next step is to assess the market conditions and potential project impact,” Marino said. “We’ll be doing two surveys as the part of the next step. They will be online but there will also be a lot of outreach.”
The survey will be launched on Feb. 28 and residents can find more information at www.artspacelakewood.org.
“This is a game changer,” Marino said.
Neighborhood participation project
Holly Boehm, a planner with the city, spoke about the Neighborhood Participation Program, which was started in 1992 and has funded 108 projects over the years.
This year Boehm recommended seven projects out of 13 be funded, to the tune of around $166,000.
These projects include a pathway at Sutherland Shire Park, fence heightening at Hodgson Park and making ADA improvements to the restrooms at Morse Park.
The resolution to move forward on these projects will go to council for first and second reading before they are approved.