Friday, July 8, 2011

CULTIVATING THE ARTS -13


CITIES BENEFIT FROM USING
THE ARTS AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL


"My city, Minneapolis, has at least two such areas: the more urban warehouse district in the North Loop, and the quieter Northeast area of Minneapolis. The arts movement in each of these areas has brought about a growing need for housing and services in what were tired and rundown urban neighborhoods," Brooks continued.

"The accessibility of culture, localized retail, and great restaurants have brought new buyers looking for a friendly walkable neighborhood without a commute to the downtown business districts. This has stabilized and improved property values in many of these urban neighborhoods!"

Brooks praised cities that are rebuilding transit with light rail and other options where city residents can get to airports and suburban resources without a car.

"Our national economic slump will not last forever, but the way we live in and around our cities may be changed for the long haul," he observed. "Those little arts quarters growing in our cities may be a great piece of the solution to re-building our nation."

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