City Ready For Artspace,

Initial Findings Report

ONEONTA – Oneonta may be ready for Artspace.

“We were able to gauge the temperature of the community as a whole, but more specifically the arts community, and found that the interest was perhaps stronger than expected,” according to the press release issued by City Hall today.

“Oneonta is well-positioned to pursue an affordable live/work mixed-use facility for artists and creatives,” the Artspace draft report read. “With an underserved creative sector, alignment with broader community goals, and strong city leadership, the feasibility of moving a project forward is very positive.”

Following Artspace’s three-day visit to the City last October, the Core Group has reviewed the report by Wendy Holmes, Senior Vice President, Consulting and Strategic Partnerships at Artspace and has submitted a draft of their findings. According to the press release, the final report should be finished within a month and posted on the City’s website.

“The Artspace study has effectively documented strong support and demand for an Artist Community in our downtown,” said Mayor Gary Herzig. “This finding is consistent with both our draft Comprehensive Plan and our Downtown Revitalization Initiative goals. I want to thank SUNY Oneonta for their support and involvement in this initiative. Going forward, we are committed to exploring all options for a downtown artist live/work project including private investment and development.”