Resolution 5760 - Laserfiche WebLink

• 1 and improvement for continued use as a parking facility. The City Council finds that the Everett Regional Arts Center contemplated herein will constitute a higher and better use for the Property than its current use; and WHEREAS, the use of the Property for the development, construction and operation of the Everett Regional Arts Center, is consistent with the public purposes of promoting affordable housing as well as arts and culture in the City; and WHEREAS, Artspace Projects, Inc. is a leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts with a record of 17 successfully completed projects and several others under construction; and WHEREAS, from March through May, 2005, the City conducted a survey of artists, art educators, and patrons located in and around Everett. Data from the survey of patrons showed that patrons were interested in connecting with artists, taking art classes, viewing new exhibits at a place that was accessible and had places to relax and dine. Patrons were also interested in renting lobby and exhibit space for receptions or business meetings. Forty-three percent(281) of the artists who completed the survey expressed an interest in relocating to a live-work unit in the proposed arts community that would be created by the development of the Everett Regional Arts Center. Forty-six percent of the respondents expressed interested in renting work space at the Center; and WHEREAS, the same survey indicated that an art education center will provide art resources to equip teachers with art techniques to integrate into their curriculum, provide opportunities for students to experience art exhibits and interact with working artists, help prepare students for careers in the arts, allow advanced training, and enrich the community by providing a variety of recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Arts Council of Snohomish County, a nonprofit organization whose mission for more than 30 years has been to promote the arts for the enhancement of community life, has partnered with Artspace to raise money to build the Everett Regional Arts Center and create a model project that will generate new economic activity and bring national exposure to the City of Everett; WHEREAS, the Everett Regional Arts Center is projected to make the City a more attractive location to start up and conduct business and generate economic activity from cultural tourism; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the location of the Property in Everett's downtown core is a good location in that it integrates affordable housing into the City's downtown while at the same time it offers the potential of revitalizing the neighborhood around the Property by creating an arts district; and 2