Fayetteville Seeks Cultural District Designation from State
Arts for Rural Texas, in partnership with the City of Fayetteville, is preparing an application with the Texas Commission on the Arts for a Cultural District designation for the city. There have been two meetings of stakeholders and community leaders so far to explain the benefits of the designation and to seek input on the measure.
“The proposed cultural district area is the historic courthouse square, which features three art galleries, one artist’s studio, the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, three restaurants, six retail shops, a bank and ATM, at least three lodging options, and, of course, the historic courthouse itself,” said Arts for Rural Texas executive director, Sandra Borne.
The courthouse square is also home to the monthly Pickers in the Park, the biannual Fayetteville Courthouse Music Series, and the annual ARTWalk, Lickskillet Days, Country Christmas, and the Fayetteville Lions Club Classic Car Show.
Mayor Mike Stroup stated, “The reviewers of this application will consider strengths, such as walkability and ADA compliance, our concentration of cultural and arts facilities and events, as well as Fayetteville’s supporting businesses, such as lodging, restaurants, and retail shopping. Having a cultural district designation will encourage people to visit Fayetteville and to spend money while they’re here. A cultural district designation also provides incentives and access to grants that can help preserve our historic courthouse square and energize our community.”
“The growth we’re seeing in the northern part of Fayette County is coming our way,” said Borne. “Receiving this cultural district designation will allow us to manage that growth rather than just sitting back and letting it happen,” continued Borne.
Besides revitalization from tourism and access to grant dollars, a cultural district designation can attract businesses, enhance property values, and provide an expansion in the tax base. Stroup pointed out that the designation does not impose any regulation on property owners, buildings, or businesses in the district. “There’s no effect whatsoever on zoning,” Stroup explained. “There’s no authority to require us to do anything related to zoning.”
A city council resolution supporting the application will be voted on at the April City Council meeting, and the application will be sent to the Texas Commission on theArts in mid-June.
For more information, contact Borne at executive@artsforruraltexas. org or Stroup at mstroup@cvctx.com.