Artist Enclave

BECOMING AN "ARTIST ENCLAVE"

Among Historic Kenwood’s true distinctions are the warmth and creativity that infuse our neighborhood. Visual, performing, and cultural artists who live in our midst help to spark this vitality, as do the arts organizations and businesses in the adjoining Grand Central District, and events like our BungalowFest, Art in the Park, and porch party performances.

The Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association is voting via petitions to become an "artist enclave"  – a St. Petersburg city zoning "overlay" designation that will enable artists to have home-based studios in specified areas of historic neighborhoods. By law, 66% of the property owners in a neigbhborhood seeking to become an artist enclave must sign a petition affirming their consent. Now, we’re in the final stages of gathering the required signatures 

Once we receive this designation, artists in specified areas of Kenwood will be able to teach, produce work, and meet small numbers of clients in their own spaces. Together, they’ll also be able to sponsor up to 12 special events each year.

Q&A

WHAT DOES THE ARTIST ENCLAVE DO FOR ARTISTS?

 Dozens of artists currently live in Kenwood. Some may choose to have their homes designated as participating artist residences within the new enclave. That would allow them a few extra perks, such as four by-appointment only visits of prospective clients per day. They could also offer classes out of their home studios, so long as they keep it to fewer than four students at a time.  Artists often struggle to afford a separate studio space. Living within an artist enclave allows working artists to use their homes for limited commercial activity.

HOW DO OTHER RESIDENTS BENEFIT?

Having more artists in our midst fosters a lively and creative environment for all of us. The artist enclave designation will strengthen Kenwood's identity as a desirable and interesting place to live and work; it will bring positive attention locally, regionally, and nationally. The St. Petersburg Times said the artist enclave initiative “will bolster the city's reputation as a place that values and nurtures the arts at all levels.” 

Because it helps to make the neighborhood more desirable, the enclave will likely have a positve impact on Kenwood property sales and values. All zoning ordinances that regulate noise, pollution, codes, etc. will remain in effect, so the artist enclave will have no detrimental effect. 

WILL THERE BE NEW SIGNS POPPING UP?

 Part of the ordinance section dealing with signs gives each artist enclave the ability to create its own uniform sign design. When we submit our application for Kenwood to become an artist enclave, we will also submit our sign theme. The council will then mandate our sign requirements. The sign will be small, elegant, and required to be attached to a house.

WILL PROPERTY TAXES GO UP?

We gave a copy of the artist enclave ordinance to the Pinellas County Deputy Property Appraiser and asked him this very question. According to him, there is nothing in the ordinance that made him think taxes would rise as a result of us adopting it.  The artist enclave ordinance would create a zoning overlay in our neighborhood. That’s very different from changing the actual zone. This ordinance was created for traditional neighborhoods like Historic Kenwood, and should have no effect on property taxes, unless of course property values go up as a result of the added appeal the artist enclave brings – in which case we might all be grateful.

WILL UTILITY RATES GO UP?

No. According to former St. Petersburg City Planner Bob Jeffrey, “Utilities go to individual buildings. Buildings can be next door to each other and have different rates. If you’re not a commercial use you’re not going to be charged based on what’s happening next to you, regardless of the use. “

Utility rates typically go up when consumption dictates infrastructure upgrades. The minimal permitted uses allowed in the artist enclave are almost certainly not enough to warrant upgrades for artists’ residences either.

WILL INSURANCE RATES GO UP?

 No, unless you are an artist in residence that chooses to allow by-appointment sales or host special events. In those cases you will probably want to purchase more liability insurance. We’re working with local insurance agents to find group rates for artists. For all other homeowners there is no need for additional insurance, nor will living in proximity to a working artist cause rates to increase. 

 IF I'M AN ARTIST CURRENTLY WORKING UNDER THE RADAR, WILL THE NEW ENCLAVE FORCE ME TO BUY INSURANCE?

 No. The AEOD provides artists with the opportunity for limited commercial activity within their homes. If you want to legitimize this activity, under the new artist enclave you can declare yourself an artist in residence. That would enable you to hang the official Kenwood artist enclave sign from your house and officially take part in all the benefits of the artist enclave. But if you don’t want to participate, no one would force you. You can take the same risks as you do currently and not purchase additional insurance.

 WOULD TATOO PARLORS BE INCLUDED IN THE ARTIST ENCLAVE?

No. According to Derek Kilborn from the city planning department, “Body piercing and tattoo parlors are regulated as service establishments. Service establishments are not included in the table of qualifying land-use types and there are unique (state) regulations associated with this land-use type; they will not be permitted within the artist enclave overlay district unless otherwise authorized by the underlying zoning.”

 5TH AVENUE N IS ZONED COMMERCIAL. WILL IT BISECT THE HISTORIC KENWOOD ARTIST ENCLAVE AND FORCE US TO CREATE TWO SEPARATE KENWOOD ENCLAVES, OR CAN IT BE INCLUDED?

It can be included in the artist enclave, and doing so provides at least one additional benefit not available to the rest of the neighborhood that’s zoned NT-1. 5th Avenue North is zoned CRT-1. The artist overlay enclave district legislation stipulates that Museums / art galleries within CRT-1 are currently allowed by Special Exception, meaning they require public hearing review and approval by the city's Development Review Commission. That means by adopting the artist enclave, and getting some additional approval, we would then be able have museums open along 5^th Ave within the enclave.

 Moreover, 5^th Avenue N would also benefit from the additional flexibility in cases where those uses aren’t currently permitted in CRT-1.       

           HOW CAN I HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN?

Please sign and return this petition and encourage your neighbors to do likewise.

Click here for the AEOD Ballot

QUESTIONS?

Contact Tim Martin:  ftimothymartin@yahoo.com

 MORE INFO

St. Petersburg Times Article December 7, 2010

St. Petersburg Times Editorial December 13, 2010

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - Establishing AEOD

What does the Artist Enclave do for artists?

 We have dozens of artists living in our neighborhood. Some of them may choose to have their homes designated as participating artist residences within the new enclave. That would allow them a few extra perks, such as four by-appointment only visits of prospective clients per day. They could also offer educational classes out of their home, like a music lesson, so long as they keep it to fewer than four students at a time.

 Artists often struggle to afford a separate studio space. Living within an artist enclave allows working artists to use their homes for limited commercial activity.

 How do non artists benefit?

 The artist enclave is a very positive move for many reasons. Here area few that are uppermost in our minds:  

·         Having more artists in our midst fosters a lively and creative environment for all of us.

·         The enclave concept strengthens Kenwood's identity as a desirable and interesting place to live and work. In marketing terms, this is a true differentiator - one that will bring positive attention locally, regionally, and nationally.

·         The artist enclave will help to maintain and increase Kenwood property values, since housing prices are positively influenced by the desirability of a neighborhood.

 The artist enclave designation should have minimal impact on non artist residents living in the new district. All underlying neighborhood traditional zoning ordinances that regulate noise, pollution, codes, etc. will remain in effect. 

 How does the Artist Enclave better the neighborhood?

 Part of the reason we’ve been so successful as a neighborhood is that we’ve always done a good job marketing ourselves. The artist enclave designation will give us another really strong asset that we can use to promote our great community. 

 We feel that having this designation will strengthen our community and reinforce our neighborhood motto: Historic Kenwood, A Neighborhood of the Arts. The artist enclave designation also allows for monthly special events within our neighborhood, like a monthly art walk or gallery night, thus creating more community-building social opportunities for all residents.

 The enhanced marketing opportunities and community building aspects of this district may also help encourage more people to move to our neighborhood, and improve property values.  The St. Petersburg Times said the Artist Enclave initiative “will bolster the city's reputation as a place that values and nurtures the arts at all levels.” We agree, and think others looking to buy will take even more of an interest in our neighborhood as a result. And in this economy with a growing number of vacant houses on our blocks, we can use the help.

 Will there be all kinds of new signs popping up as a result?

 Part of the ordinance section dealing with signs gives each artist enclave the ability to create its own uniform sign design. Here’s how it reads:

 D. At the time of approval of the AEOD, the City Council may establish a sign theme or character with which each sign shall comply.

This is a huge point. When we submit our application for Kenwood to become an artist enclave we will also submit our sign theme. The council will then mandate our sign requirements. The sign will be small, elegant, and required to be attached to a house.

 Will my property taxes go up as a result?

 We gave a copy of the artist enclave ordinance to the Pinellas County Deputy Property Appraiser and asked him this very question. According to him, there is nothing in the ordinance that made him think taxes would rise as a result of us adopting it.  The artist enclave ordinance would create a zoning overlay in our neighborhood. That’s very different from changing the actual zone. This ordinance was created for traditional neighborhoods like Historic Kenwood, and should have no effect on property taxes, unless of course property values go up as a result of the added appeal the artist enclave brings – in which case we might all be grateful.

 Will my utility rates go up?

 No. According to former St. Petersburg City Planner Bob Jeffrey, “utilities go to individual buildings. Buildings can be next door to each other and have different rates. If you’re not a commercial use you’re not going to be charged based on what’s happening next to you, regardless of the use. “

 Utility rates typically go up when consumption dictates infrastructure upgrades. The minimal permitted uses allowed in the artist enclave are almost certainly not enough to warrant upgrades for artists’ residences either.

 Will my insurance go up?

 No, unless you are an artist in residence that chooses to allow by-appointment sales or host special events. In those cases you will probably want to purchase more liability insurance. We’re working with local insurance agents to find group rates for artists. For all other homeowners there is no need for additional insurance, nor will living in proximity to a working artist cause rates to increase. 

 If I’m an artist currently working under the radar, will the new artist enclave force me to buy insurance?

 No. The AEOD provides artists with the opportunity for limited commercial activity within their homes. If you want to legitimize this activity, under the new artist enclave you can declare yourself an artist in residence. That would enable you to hang the official Kenwood artist enclave sign from your house and officially take part in all the benefits of the artist enclave. But if you don’t want to participate, no one would force you. You can take the same risks as you do currently and not purchase additional insurance.

 Would tattoo parlors be legal in the artist enclave?