During a special called meeting Wednesday Avondale Estates commissioners approved a pop-up art park officially named “The Art Lot” by a 4-1 vote.
The lone dissenter was Terry Giager, who cited a number of concerns, primarily that the project feels rushed and that it costs too much. Of 21 people attending Wednesday’s meeting, 12 spoke and half were also against immediate approval for similar reasons.
But Mayor Jonathan Elmore said, “I don’t want to see this project die. That would be bone crushing.”
Technically what the commission approved was a three-month funding of the city’s Downtown Development Authority totaling $36,000. The DDA will oversee the park and review all its funding requests.
David Newburn, one of The Art Lot’s creators, said the anticipated construction cost is $17,000.
Newburn and associates envision a space of roughly 50 feet by 25 feet on North Avondale Road, two blocks west of the Tudor Village. Features include walls constructed of recycled pallets, work spaces made of recycled materials, a gallery for artwork, a movie screen and a performance area/stage.
The park would remain active until the city was ready to develop the property, currently envisioned as part of a future town green.
Newburn said cleaning the site would begin shortly, and the park should open in early August.
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