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Cultural Center Moves Forward |
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County Board to Vote on Proposed Center Next Month |
Arlington County Manager Ron Carlee recommended in June that the County transform the former Newseum into a vibrant Cultural Center in the heart of Rosslyn that will showcase diverse regional and international arts and cultural offerings and attract an estimated 250,000 visitors annually. In addition, Carlee recommended that the Board reallocate $5.6 million in County funds to create the Cultural Center.
The Board will hold a public hearing on Carlee’s proposal on July 11, 2009. If the proposal is adopted, the Cultural Center is expected to be completed by the fall of 2010.
Carlee cited two developments that make the Cultural Center an excellent investment for the County. The first is the agreement of the landlord of 1101 Wilson Boulevard to lease the site to the County rent-free for more than 15 years. The second is the Rosslyn business community’s decision to partner with the County to develop and operate the Center. The Rosslyn Business Improvement Corporation will provide $1 million in funds from the Rosslyn special taxing district as seed money for the Center and $300,000 a year toward on-going operating costs.
According to Carlee, the Center will “serve as a draw to Rosslyn, enliven the street life and complement the next generation of Rosslyn redevelopment,” he said. Carlee noted that the County has searched for 30 years for solutions to Rosslyn and a home for a cultural center, but has always been thwarted by the high level of capital investment needed for the creation of a visible and accessible facility.
The Center, easily accessible by Metro, will include two performing arts spaces, an exhibition gallery, a ballroom, a restaurant and retail space. In addition, the visual arts exhibition program now at the Ellipse building in Ballston will relocate to the Center.
Open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, the Center will host more than 100 events monthly. Programming will be provided by the County and various arts partners. The “cultural town hall” is expected to have an estimated $10 million in annual economic impact and enhanced street life in Rosslyn.
For more information about the proposed Cultural Center, click here.
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