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Toledo Council tackling building colors - Another "important" city issue. "The bright palette of Mexico and other Latino cultures might have to be muted under a proposed set of standards for building facades in Toledo. Several buildings in the 1200 block of Broadway are painted in bright colors evocative of Mexico. The colorful storefronts favored by Mexican culture probably would not be permitted under the design standards as now written. The code could make an exception specifically for the Viva neighborhood." The timing of this article with the visit by Dr. Richard Florida at the Peristyle today is amazing. Dr. Florida discussed how communities can improve their economy by harnessing the creativity of everyone. He mentioned the three T's that a city needs: talent, technology, and tolerance.

The Mayor introduced Dr. Florida, and I'm guessing other city leaders were present as well. Hopefully they got the message. Dr. Florida's discussion today was as fascinating and enlightening as his book.

Dr. Florida said cities should stop sprawl. Nice idea, but good luck with that one around here. He emphasized "density" in a community.

Dr. Florida suggested cities shouldn't invest in mega projects. I wonder if the languishing Marina District project counts? He said governments should make a lot of little investments. He suggested leaders should also invest in neighborhoods.

Dr. Florida mentioned the "squelchers" who stifle creativity. Seems this ridiculous city ordinance about the colors used on building facades would be a "squelcher."

Toledo has a growing Hispanic population, which is fabulous, in my opinion. The more cultures the better. If they congregate in a general area and establish businesses and communities, why should they or any culture be prevented from displaying a little of the heritage?

If I visit an ethnic neighborhood, I'm not doing it because it looks like something in sprawlsville. I'm doing it because I want to enjoy their culture: food, music, art, products.

Will Toledo prevent ethnic neighborhoods from performing their type of music? Will Toledo say everyone has to create the same kind of artwork? If Toledo Council prevents this Hispanic neighborhood from displaying their colors, then the Mayor's Summit today was a bust, Dr. Florida's message would have landed on deaf ears, and there truly will be no improvement in Toledo.
posted by jr to culture at 5:13 P.M. EST     (4 Comments)

Comments ...

Looking for ideas to apply the concepts of Richard Florida in the Toledo Region.
What will facilitate, accelerate, and energize the proliferation of ideas and creative people in this region?
Why not get the discussion moving. We need thousands of ideas.
The Blade's editorial today regarding the building color issue seems to indicate that they are at least pushing the concept even if they do not understand it completely.
posted by markfx at 05:09 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 19, 2003     #

Here's the Blade opinion, which was encouraging to read.

"Toledo’s Hispanic community is stewing over the standards because they threaten plans to develop a lively Latino neighborhood on Broadway in the old south end with store and restaurant buildings painted in the bright pinks, oranges, blues, yellows and turquoises characteristic of Latino folk art."

"The colorless restrictions would produce a sameness that is not only counterproductive to a city’s overall elegance, but a block to the creative spirit it needs to explode, to make its neighborhoods of interest even to those who don’t live in them."

That second paragraph is key.

I had hoped the companion website ToledoArts.com would be used to discuss issues like this, but this site is fine too.

Here's a similar topic at ToledoArts.com, which is not to be confused with the city's new website that just started last month called ToledoArts.org.

Not to stereotype, but when I was at the Summit last Friday at the Peristyle from Noon to 2 p.m., I really felt out of place. Either very few businesses in Toledo have "Jeans Friday" or the artists were all dressed up. Me in my ballcap, sneakers, faded jeans, and gray hooded sweatshirt that's probably due for a washing, clashed with the formal attire so many people were wearing. Does the Peristyle demand dressy clothes no matter the occasion?

I'm no artist, just a fan. I noticed this same formal attire thing at a Town Hall meeting for the arts at the Valentine Theatre in September.

I'm sure some artists were present at these meetings, and I'm sure they own nice clothes too and do get dressed up at times, but both meetings seemed to be missing something.

Why not have some of these meetings in the auditorium at the Collingwood Arts Center? Why do these things have to be so formal and stuffy? Prim and proper?

Granted, what Dr. Florida is talking about, the Creative Class, also includes engineers, scientists, etc, and I'm sure some of these people were in attendance too.

I'm just wondering if all of the artists in the Toledo area are aware of the Mayor's arts initiative for Toledo? Are the local artists involved? Are they being asked for their feedback? Or is this only being managed by large organizations?

This next step of, "Looking for ideas to apply the concepts of Richard Florida in the Toledo Region" should involve people from all areas and not just artists. Maybe a web-based survey needs to be created to garner feedback from the public. We all travel to other cities and towns and think, "Gee, I wish we had this in Toledo." Okay, what is it? If it's an 8000 foot mountain peak, that may be a little difficult to pull of around here.

There should be some place where all of these ideas can be stored and dicussed. Naturally, I would say a website would be the place. It would allow new people to catch up quickly with what's being discussed. Ideas can be easily submitted, categorized, archived, and searched.

The strategic plan for the arts in Toledo, which was handed out last Friday, is a fine document, but it should be available on-line for download. Make it easy for others to access. I'm fearing that the web is not being utilized enough to get the word out and encourage ideas and discussion.

Face-to-face meetings are good too, but chuck the ties and formal gowns.
posted by jr at 09:36 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 19, 2003     #

To borrow from my former workplace, maybe a "500 Ideas" campaign is needed. Or 1000 ideas, whatever. The point is, the public is asked to submit ideas by a certain point of time. A goal is set, and hopefully 500 can be collected by the end date. But that doesn't mean no more ideas would be accepted after the end date, nor would it stop at 500. It's just a way to get things going, to get people thinking.
posted by jr at 11:32 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 19, 2003     #

Agree, a repository is a needed, and it is critical that technology, business development, non-profit investment, social projects, education, and any other arenas be part of the idea flow.
The arts are fine as lead avenue, since that is the Mayor's vision, and he is the only one trying to do anything at this point.
How about a slashdot type vetting of these ideas?
A long term goal could be to make this process and repository part of the shared vision of the community future.
posted by markfx at 09:54 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 20, 2003     #

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