9/13/12 - Here is a brief visit with painter and new downtown Vallejo resident Jeff Snell. Snell moved to Vallejo from Alameda this past April and now occupies the live-work space at 630 Marin Street directly across from the old Mr. Rick's and the Temple Art Lofts currently under construction.
Even as the City and downtown struggle with a number of problems, there are still positive things happening. And don't forget Vallejo Gardens just up the street.
(P.S. Word is that there are plans for Mr. Rick's old place...more on that later.)
I am an artist and have moved here to vallejo from Phoenix. Low rent attracted me to this spot. I got to stay with the city's talk of art, I think I will stay here to the the flowering that art brings to a community. I have seen it first hand in Phoenix when Downtown was empty of life and the city council was screaming for infill. now the phoenix art scene attracts tens of thousands to its art events. This town can see a rebirth because art is a factor in its rebuilding. I always meet folks who are mistrustful of the positive impact of art. But I also see the same people turn around and see beautiful creation where once there was just ruin.
****ed off
|September.17.2012
If I knew it Staff sure as hell knew it
subsidised public housing has many non discrimination rules built in to the system . To discriminate based on profession or avocation is illegal , this whole mess was a magnet for lawsuites .
Any Staff that mislead the Council otherwise should be terminated for mis-information or incompetence , did the City attorney weigh in on this ? who advised Council on the Temple Arts project.
VHA-17
|September.16.2012
Another reason we need to get rid of VHA ASAP.
17 people + CRAIG WHITTOM + ANNETTE TAYLOR, working full time to add even MORE section 8 housing to Vallejo.
When resident making a police report, they can only talk to an answering machine, why should a sec. 8 applicants get immediate and personal service?
Resource allocated to VHA is out of proportion compared with services needed by all residents. City resource needs to be re-allocated.
Staff Accountability
|September.16.2012
@Natasha Clarke
I brought this up when Michelle Hightower proposed that 426 units apartment tucked behind that who-knows-what commercial project. Temple Art Loft Project is another bait-and-switch project.
Some STAFF need to take the accountability of ill advising the city council.
This project is NOT the one City Council approved. This is a FRAUD.
The staff made the recommendation should be fired for either deception and not fully disclose relevant facts or for incompetence for not knowing her job.
Natasha Clarke
|September.16.2012
Few days ago the City held a public workshop at the Empress Theater to discuss how we can improve the Downtown Vallejo area. I asked who would be occupying the Masonic Building once the renovations are completed there. It was voted by City Consuls like living and working place for artists. Now the City reply was that they could not discriminate. So it now appears that it will cater to a mix of low income people. So who do you think will finally inhabite that building---artists (as we were originally lead to believe) or .....
Art Revive
|September.13.2012
We also need to think about and talk with artists on how to manage the Temple Art Lofts project.
If we are not prepared, the result may not be what we approved at the first place.
Do not left it in the hands of staff and developer.
wharf rat
|September.13.2012
Artists have been moving to Vallejo for some time to escape the high rents down bay , many of them cite the lack of Gentrification and down to earth ethos as
positive attributes . In a nutshell Artists need affordable Studio space with open areas and great light . Keep in mind very few Artists support themselves entirely by Art sales .
Art Revive
|September.13.2012
We need to find out from the artists/groups moving to Vallejo lately how they decided to move to Vallejo and what they see as areas we can make life better for them.
When we know the reason, we can strengthen our strength and improve our weakness to attract more positive force to town.
We can grow and develop organically and selectively with individual and small business v.s. Ursula's "Anything is better than nothing" low self-esteem, Do-anyhting-to-be-a-popular-girl type econ development.
Don't expect a silver bullet to revive our downtown, especially not a silver bullet with Fed money.
Downtown will be revived by individuals and small business like Jeff, Natasha, Menard..
Keep on the good works, guy and gal...
Jay
|September.13.2012
One more artist moves to Vallejo from elsewhere in the Bay Area. Keep 'em coming, and welcome Jeff!