Columbia City Council Establishes the City of Columbia Arts District
By Thad Jablonski, Assistant City Manager, City of Columbia
The Columbia City Council approved a special zoning overlay on second and final reading of an ordinance establishing the City of Columbia Arts District at the July 14 City Council meeting. The special zoning overlay creates the legal framework for a “live-work” district adjacent to the historic commercial downtown district in Columbia.
The City of Columbia Arts District’s (CAD) provides an additional property right for owners and tenants for properties within the special zoning overlay limited for use of artists/artisans and the establishment of artistic and creative enterprises, workshops, and retail and living spaces regardless of existing zoning classifications. Allowing mixed-used zoning for arts enterprises, property owners and tenants in the new CAD will enjoy more flexibility within the district. The new Arts District and Downtown Columbia are the only two areas within the Columbia city limits at present to permit mixed land use alternatives for neighborhood residents and business owners.
The project to establish an arts and cultural district in Columbia began with the creation of the Columbia Arts Council in 2014. The Columbia Arts Council was established “to promote the Arts in the City of Columbia through awareness, appreciation, education and support thereby creating a connection between artists and audiences to enrich the quality of life for all and position the greater Columbia area as an arts rich community and regional arts destination.”
Arts, history and culture make Columbia an existing and natural arts hub in both the Middle and South Central regions of Tennessee. Bustling with activity, the neighboring historic conmmercial downtown area adjacent to the City of Columbia Arts District and the city more broadly offers high quality-of-life amenities, the feel of small town life and charm that appeals to virtually any and all types of life preferences, be it rural or urban, and a home-grown arts and music scene only 45 miles South of Nashville. With ease and direct access to I-65 driving north or south, Columbia also boasts a well-maintained network of US and State Route highways in addition to the regional airport and rail access.
Columbia faces a unique opportunity to ensure that the arts is a driving economic and cultural force in the city moving forward, anticipated to promote continued downtown growth, attract creatives and young professionals in particular, among others, and serve as the primary arts and cultural anchor in the South Central Tennessee region. Additionally, arts and cultural districts in other cities and states have facilitated neighborhood renewal and ground-up community development. Finally, cultural districts are destinations that bring tourists, which the City of Columbia Arts District is expected to increasingly attract vistors as the district grows.
According to Mayor Dean Dickey, “the new arts district will continue to evolve and grow as artists continue to move to the neighborhood and as the city begins infrastructure improvements already planned and new projects under review and consideration which will all work to improve the neighborhood at the center of the new arts district and demonstrate the city’s commitment to the City of Columbia Arts District.”
As the city and region experiences historic growth with Columba cultivating new, high-quality amenities and superior municipal services within the region, the city is well positioned to leverage current arts and culture assets, diverse and appealing natural and built environments and unique community character to capture artists, artisans, and creatives as the City continues to grow and pursue numerous initiatives focused on continually improving quality of life in Columbia, where the City’s motto continues to ring: “Something good around every corner.”
For more information on the City of Columbia Arts District, go to www.columbiatn.com/community/ and select “Arts & Culture” on the left side menu.
