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Arts
Districts
Pawtucket RI; Providence, RI; and
Worcester, MA
Three valley communities have enacted legislation
targeted at reviving
elements of their downtown areas by attracting live and work places for
artists into their historic structures. Using a provision for tax
incentives for artists and gallery
owners, both cities have experienced substantial success as a result
of their efforts. The
Rhode
Island Acts of 1998 establish arts districts in both Providence
and Pawtucket, providing sales and income tax exemptions to qualified
district members. As a result, Providence can point to several arts institutions,
including
the Trinity Theatre
Company, making significant investments in the neighborhood, and Pawtucket’s
district is quickly gaining momentum in revitalizing its downtown.
In Massachusetts, Worcester has adopted an overlay
zoning district in order to
encourage the development of artist “live/work” spaces. The city is steadily
seeing
improvements in the area, as it partners with private owners to identify
funding resources. The City has used Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to
assist in
the redevelopment of one of the district’s major structures, and has attracted
Affordable
Housing Trust Fund dollars to build 24 mixed-income units of housing
plus commercial space in its Odd Fellows Hall.
Blackstone Valley arts districts join over 90 similar zones throughout the country.
Contact:
Michael Cassidy
Pawtucket Town Planner
401.724.5200
read more...
“A Work In Progress: Pawtucket Attempts to Reinvent Itself as a Haven for Artists” – Providence Journal, 9/8/01
"Making Room for the Arts," Boston Globe, 5/20/01
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