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Grass Valley Downtown Association, Grass Valley, California wins prestigious 2004 Crystal Eagle Achievement Awards
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Day by day, staff and members of business associations, city economic development agencies, chambers of commerce and urban renewal professionals work hard to create, promote and sustain vital business districts and ultimately, livable communities. The success of these efforts is best measured by public response and stakeholder satisfaction. At the root of each successful effort is creativity, determination, innovation and persistence.
The CDA Crystal Eagle Achievement Awards recognize the outstanding efforts put forth by downtown organizations, business districts and city agencies and their partnerships to develop programs and projects that enhance the economic success and popular appeal of our vital city centers.
There were 17 entries submitted for consideration for this year’s Crystal Eagle Achievement Awards. All the submissions were excellent and merited recognition. However, the 2004 judging panel placed emphasis on originality and wide-community involvement above other considerations. For example while a streetscape improvement is a key component of downtown revitalization, it is also a more routine component of a program.
This year’s honorees display originality and/or are examples of successful projects that have made a tremendous difference in their downtown business districts.
AWARD WINNERS
Physical Improvement/Economic Development
The rehabilitation and conversion of an abandoned building into a Center for the Arts in downtown Grass Valley, California had a tremendous impact on that community and thus was chosen as one of two recipients for this year’s Physical Development/Economic Improvement Award. The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California has become a focal point for downtown, a source of pride and purpose and drive. It is in constant use, attracting national acts and has become not only a signature of Grass Valley, but a regional attraction throughout the County.
Project Summary
Grass Valley, California Center for The Arts
The Center for the Arts in historic downtown Grass Valley, California epitomized the significant metamorphosis of the area. The white elephant building, once used for car sales, languished for years as businesses moved in and out, but for the majority of recent years, sat empty.
While an initial attempt at an art center took place six years ago, it wasn’t until 2000, when an energetic member of the community lead the reorganization of the floundering non-profit and developed a real estate plan to purchase and then resell the remodeled building to the reconstituted Center for the Arts in historic Grass Valley, California.
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The rehabilitation of the building included a new roof, updating the fire suppression system, installing heating and air-conditioning, insulation, installing theater seating, establishing gallery space, developing a parking plan and completing a second floor dance studio, that was immediately rented to the well established Sierra Dance Institute.
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A fundraising effort was undertaken to transform the façade of the arts building into an attractive art-deco presence at the cost of $100,000. As of August, 2004 over half the money had been raised and the work was nearing completion.
The Center for the Arts was sold to the nonprofit with a cash flow and support system that was viable and sustainable. Since opening, the center has been a magnet for drawing people to downtown, bringing over 175,000 patrons to events in the past year, and is now an established performance venue, with bookings that range from dance, music, dramatic productions as well as providing studio space, gallery space, class room and meeting space to a recording studio and three dance studios.
The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California is a terrific example of a private funding effort that has an enormously positive influence on downtown life.
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