Academy Streetscape

The streetscape project includes a number of components:

–  “Rooms” at selected locations on Academy Street
– Modification of the intersection at Academy and Dry – widening the street into the park to provide exclusive right turn lanes onto Academy when coming from Kildaire
– New light pole options (allowing flags and other hanging ornamentation)
– Street tree lighting (up lighting and string lighting in the trees.)
– Benches, with artistic components
– Electrical infrastructure locations (big power distribution boxes (4 ft tall) and smaller pedestals (18” tall)  

Park and Street Benches

Previous to this meeting, council had already given feedback and chose a number of granite benches and the accompanying artwork with a music theme. Some of the benches are shaped like dulcimers, others like violins; I think they will be beautiful. Our goal at this point was to discuss some of the quotes that will be engraved on the benches. The idea proposed was for the quotes to make references to music, dance, singing and song, linking it to our town or state if possible (perhaps by choice of the author) and also to the location.

For example, the dulcimer benches would incorporate quotes from North Carolina poets such as Dr. Maya Angelou and R.R. Richardson.

Overall, I like the concept and idea, and many of the quotes chosen. I had a concern with one of the quotes, however. This one:

“‘Tis God gives skill,
But not without men’s hands: He could not make
Antonio Stradivarious’s violins
Without Antonio.”

My concern with this quote was its mention of God. I am leery of using Public funds to put a quote that mentions God on a public bench. Don’t get me wrong, I like the quote, and I understand that it was hanging in the nearby Violin shop when the artist was scoping locations. But I do believe in the separation of Church and State, and am sensitive to the fact that not all of our citizens would appreciate the expenditure of our taxes on a quote that mentions a God. I suggested another quote – a famous one from William Shakespeare,

“If music be the food of love, play on”

But I was outvoted. Moving on.

Our Park Fountain

The next section covered the fountain – the iconic entry to our Downtown Park.  Presented with sketches and options associated with the fountain, Council was unanimous in our praise of the design – simple, yet elegant. We decided on adding an additional water pump, to provide options for water usage, asked staff for additional costs for lighting, and turned down additions of adding bronze to the bowl and bronze columns. I cannot wait for this fountain to be constructed, and for the first wedding pictures to be taken in front of it. It will be stunning!

Next steps

After staff completes right of way acquisition for the streetscape, we will soon see things happening downtown.  Please be patient as construction begins, and detours are added to allow for the work to move forward.  Here is the timeline:

November 2014 – Design complete

Spring 2015 – Begin construction

Summer 2016 – End construction

As always, thanks for listening and please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.

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Pictures from our Town of Cary materials presented at the work session.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE

Last council meeting, staff brought forward an ordinance to change the “rules” regarding the use of these lights around town.  The ordinance change that was originally proposed, and unanimously recommended by the Planning and Zoning board:

1. Removed the restriction of lights in only the Downtown Cary Town Center and allowed lights across town.
2. Removed the “twinkle type lights”
3. Allowed accenting of lights along rooflines and the perimeter of outdoor areas.

I liked the proposed ordinance the way it was written, but 5 of the 7 council members disagree with me.  (Thanks Don!)

NEW Ordinance

The NEW ordinance to be discussed/approved tomorrow makes these changes:

1. Only allows these types of lights Downtown and in Mixed Use Overly Zoning Districts
2. Only allows them in landscaping (not on rooflines) or other places,
3. And only allows perimeter down-lighting that is shielded and only for sales areas

I like Lights

I’ve seen string lights tastefully used by our small businesses across the town to provide indirect, beautiful outdoor lighting at restaurants and other businesses with outdoor seating.

Folks enjoy dinner outside at Ashworth Village or Bosphorus– where the ambience is certainly set by the beautiful outdoor string lights.

I can’t imagine a summer evening at Goodberry’s without the tree lights.  (I’m checking to see if BOTH Goodberry’s are in Mixed Use Overlay districts.) 

I don’t feel it’s fair to limit the use of these lights to businesses and restaurants that are Downtown or in a Mixed Use Overlay District.  I’d like to be fair to all our businesses, and apply an ordinance equitably across the town.

But, let’s see how tomorrow goes.

As always, thanks for listening and please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.

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Featured photo by Memicat

We have the installation of the two roundabouts, the restoration of “The Cary” Theatre, the restoration of the Jones-Foy House, and work going on to install a waterline. 

Town of Cary Map (annotated)

But it’s time for you to weigh in, as well.

Downtown in Progress

Across from the Cary Arts center is what Town Council and Staff commonly refer to as the “Opportunity Site.” Last year the town held a charrette to brainstorm and create a framework regarding the area – to guide how that piece of property will develop.

There have been some great articles written about this effort – some of my favorite are by the Cary Citizen:

– Downtown Park Plans Move Forward (link)
– Ben Shivar: Past, Present, Future in Cary (link)

Now it’s your turn

Citizens are invited to come to a public meeting that will be held next week at Town Hall – where Town Staff will present an update on the park and facilities that are currently on the plan. But most importantly, we want your feedback as we dive deep into creating a truly unique, remarkable and extraordinary destination.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

6 p.m. on March 12th
Cary Town Council Chambers
316 N. Academy Street

You can read more about Cary Downtown at:

– Downtown Development at the Town of Cary 

– Cary Downtown (Town of Cary)

– Heart of Cary Association

Hope to see you there!

4 Councilmembers shovel the sand

Being a council member does have its perks. Ceremonial duties such as groundbreakings or award programs are some of my favorite activities. I’m also looking forward to a promised ride-along with a Cary police officer, and my first chance to be in a parade (that’s next weekend!) Sometimes these events give me a behind-the-scenes look at some of Town projects in development in Cary.

That’s what I got on Saturday at the ground breaking ceremony of “The Cary,” the first indoor movie theater built in Cary.

“If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you are.” James Burke”

Historic Past

Marquee in 1953

The Cary Theatre, was owned and operated by Paul Chandler and his family in the 1940’s and 50’s.  At that time the theatre showed first-run films, ran Saturday matinees (usually Westerns and comedies) and even hosted live entertainment, including Patsy Cline and Ernest Tubbs. It was a real pleasure and honor to meet many of his family members that came for the ground-breaking ceremony, some telling stories of the theater and the folks that loved it so.

Over time, this building on Chatham Street has had numerous incantations besides the theatre – once operating as a clothing store, auto parts store and even a recording studio.

Photos from the 1940’s and 1950’s show The Cary with it’s marquee, and its place as part of the cultural fabric of our community – not only providing entertainment, but jobs for many of the young people in the area.

Cary Theatre in background

History in the walls

Listening to the Chandler family reminisce about The Cary was like eavesdropping on history. The stories were of kids playing in the movie theatre, the changes that occurred downtown, and the way the building was changed to accommodate the various store fronts. But perhaps what is most interesting are some of the parts of our collected past that we are not as proud of, but still must do our best to make sure they are remembered.

2nd Theatre Entrance

During a tour of the building, I was surprised to find what used to be called the “colored entrance” –with the box office window and stairs still evident.  Back when the theatre still operated, a separate entrance and ticket window was required to be built during the age of the Jim Crow laws, when these laws ordered business owners and public institutions to keep black and white clientele separated.

The Cary had a second floor balcony, where the African American movie goers would sit – after purchasing their ticket and concessions from the separate ticket window.  The Chandler family also shared that they were also required to build a separate bathroom, as well – and that Mr. Chandler was very much against all of these laws that separated the Cary population.

Projection Room

Taking a walk up the creaky and old stairs to what was, and will be again, the balcony, I saw the old projection area – with the holes in the wall for the projection system.  Along the inside wall were antique, yet truly colorful, electrical boxes.

Also on the wall leading up the stairs were two very large murals – perhaps done in the 70’s (the artist is listed as “Crabtree”).  It’s possible they were created in the 70’s, when the top floor had a recording studio.  (In fact, the recording studio room is still intact, as well.)

Remnants of the Recording Studio Upstairs

Old Electrical Boxes

Moon Mural

Sun Mural

My tour guide, Lyman Collins (Cary’s Cultural Arts Manager), shared that the town’s goal is to preserve, mark and find ways to highlight the history of the building, much in the same way as at the Cary Arts Center.  I’m looking forward to seeing the re-incarnation of the Theater as it comes to life once again over the next year.

Moving Forward

Lori, Don & an Usherette

The ground breaking event was great fun, with popcorn served by “Usherettes” from the Cary Players, descriptive posters providing a brief history and a floor plan of the new theatre.  Renovations will be in full swing soon enough.  Not only are we renovating The Cary, but we are expanding the current 7,000 square foot building to include 181 seats for a multi-use cultural facility that can be used for film, youth and amateur theater and music.  The 3-story building next door (part of the expansion) will provide more support space to the theatre as well as space available for community and commercial uses.

If you would like to see more about The Cary – you can check out the Town of Cary Downtown Webpage for more information.

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Photo credits:

– Thanks to Kris Carmichael from the Page-Walker Arts & History Center and to the Chandler Family for the historic photographs.
– Usherette is from the Cary Players
 – The top (featured) photo is a Gingerbread House of the future theater commission by the Town of Cary for the ground breaking event.

But, as they say, “art is in the eye of the beholder.”  And THIS beholder is no true critic.  I also know that what you might understand is “art,” I might think of as…well, *not* art.

So, when I heard that we were going to get an update on the Cary Public Art Master Plan, I was inquisitive and a bit nervous.  (“Lord,” I thought, “please don’t let them ask me what I think of any sculptures or paintings.  It’s a test I’m sure to fail.”)

But, as it turned out, I was in for a real lesson in “Public Art.”  First, a definition.

What is Public Art?

Public art refers to artwork, sculpture, murals and other media that has been planed and executed with the specific intention of being displayed in the public domain.  It can be anything from special facades on buildings, to manhole covers, to landscaped areas.

Cary has been a leader in Public Art – from the creation of a Master Plan in 2001, to the early beginnings of art that can be seen all around Cary.  You see it in the “Railroad man” (pictured to the left) at the Cary Depot, around town at corners and parks, to the custom artwork on the Cary Bus Shelters. (Ok, I didn’t realize that the prints on the back of the shelters were historic wallpaper designs. Did you?)

Cary Public Art Objectives

The objectives are pretty lofty, but ideals we can all get behind, I think.

– Enhance the quality of life for every citizen of Cary
– Develop the identity of Cary through public art
– Support economic development goals
– Engage citizens of Cary in public art opportunities
– Promote a greater appreciation of public art

Master Plan 2012

So, the work session goals were to get feedback and direction from Council on the Cary Public Art Master Plan, while also getting an update on opportunities and ideas for incorporating public art into all types of projects.

Since I’m a visual kind of person, my favorite sections of these presentations are when we get real examples of art installations.  In fact, at one point during the presentation, I noticed that one of the bronze statues on the presentation was made by the same artist that created our bronze statues outside of town hall.  (Yes, I also like “Where’s Waldo… )

The idea was that public art can enhance Cary – whether it’s whimsical park benches, art to create a sense of community or share our history, or that can create a sense of “place.”  The pictures were a great way for us to see this in action, and it was nice to see many of Cary’s installations used as examples of this.

Here are some of the examples used: 

Community Identity (Cary)

Parks & Greenways (Cary)

Interesting and Innovative

I especially loved the section they called “Diversity in Public Art” where we got a chance to see Art that was functional, playful and innovative.

Blue Bike - Bike Rack

Fun dance steps

Downtown

Another great section in the presentation was talking about how public art could be used in our downtown revitalization to complement the great pieces already there.  Using art to create social gathering places and to visually mark the entrances were just some of the ideas.

Next Steps

Council agreed with most of the suggested recommendations put forward by staff and the consultants. (They all did a great job in this presentation, by the way.)  The areas where we deviated with some of the recommendations surrounded funding and potential changes to the Public Art Advisory Board (PAAB).

1. PAAB: Most folks on council felt we didn’t need to be prescriptive when it came to the advisory board – that we had great representation on the board and will continue to keep the criteria and board membership somewhat fluid, rather than determining the EXACT skills/experience needed by board members  Having a more open board gives us great feedback and insight from citizens from all walks of life.

2. FUNDING: One funding suggestion was a program called a “percent for art” – which is identifying a fixed percentage for public art for specific capital  projects. Many cities do this today; Chapel Hil (1%), Durham (1%), Raleigh (0.5%), etc.  Based on calculations made by staff, we are doing something like that already – but not as formal as that process.  Again, most of the Council members were reticient to go that far, given that our program seems to be working well so far.