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SPOTL I GHT : SMALL SPACES

Foster Creative Community

An active and well-resourced arts community can have a profound impact on the overall vibrancy and economic vitality of a place, especially in dense, walkable communities like Downtown Blacksburg. Recognizing the value of arts and culture for the future of Blacksburg, Town Council passed Ordinance 1660 in 2012 for the establishment of an Arts and Cultural District to allow for and encourage more creative and cultural uses in select sub-districts in and around Downtown. Moving forward, there is a need to enhance the visibility of these districts, so the local and regional arts community can take full advantage of existing incentives, benefits, and resources. Public art can help contribute to the quality of life and collective identity of a community and is often a crucial component to revitalization efforts. Relatively low-cost interventions such as murals, lighting, installation, and sculpture can create cohesion within a district, fill visual voids in the built environment, make spaces feel more inviting, reduce neglect and vandalism, and unlock development potential. There is a need to create systems that allow for more opportunities for public art in Downtown Blacksburg. Much like the importance of thoughtful, community-driven planning for the physical development of a community, public art must also be part of a cohesive plan that creates forums for community dialogue and aligns with local and broader regional initiatives.

Alleys and smalls spaces add distinctiveness to the public realm, and offer fun opportunities to highlight and partner with local artists and small businesses. This spaces give places a unique flavor. Whereas a signature civic plaza may welcome you to a community, these smaller spaces are places you have to stumble upon

and discover as you explore the community. Encouraging pop-ups, public art, and programming can help make these spaces more active and dynamic, while also encouraging pedestrians to enjoy more of the town on foot.

 Encourage and support local businesses  Increase Downtown vibrancy via public spaces, public art, spaces for cultural expression, and streetscaping  Provide better access and visibility for buildings central to the history of Blacksburg  Explore ways to actively celebrate historic assets and foster interest in revitalization/rehabilitation of historic buildings STRATEGY 6 OBJECT I VES

78 Chapter 2 - Analysis: A Framework for Downtown