Suwanee’s art vision
Two years ago Suwanee approved a plan to ask developers to voluntarily commit 1 percent of their total project costs to art installations.
The goal was to make the area more vibrant, walkable and attractive to businesses. The city held itself to that standard and spent $78,000 on a hanging sculpture for its new City Hall.
But now the economy is struggling, and residents are questioning the value of public art in a time of cutbacks.
What do you think the city should do? What is the impact of art projects on economic development?
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20 comments Add your comment
Mark
March 20th, 2010
12:45 pm
It is a perfect case of waste of taxpayes’ money. Since it has been installed INSIDE City Hall and City Hall does not open after officially working hours(including Saturday & Sunday), I am just curious for whom is that. Is that decoration for citizens or city hall officials?
As a Suwanee regident, I want to spend that money to install such security equipments as CC-TVs,emergency call phone boxes along with walking-trails of Suwanee park.
Buzz
March 20th, 2010
12:51 pm
Businesses want low taxes, tax incentives, an educated work force, low wages, non-union laws, and access to transportation (if they manufacture).
Notice this list does not include ART.
In this economy, no CEO is looking at a city’s ART and letting that affect his decision.
Brandy
March 20th, 2010
12:59 pm
I think it’s a wonderful idea. I wish Atlanta would place more value on public art and culture. It enlivens the city, makes it a better place to live and a fun place to visit. An economy that just places a dollar value on something, which is what Atlanta historically has done, is not an economy that will ever truly excel. No great city has ever emerged without valuing its streetscapes, parks and art.
Suwanee Man
March 20th, 2010
1:16 pm
“I want to spend that money to install such security equipments as CC-TVs,emergency call phone boxes along with walking-trails of Suwanee park.” My sentiments also.
James
March 20th, 2010
1:18 pm
If you want art and all that junk, move to Europe where they love socalism, high taxes, and hate the Lord. If you can’t afford that, move to California, it’s about the same thing. Don’t spend tax money collected by jack boot thugs for this touchy feely garbage.
City hall should be as small as possible, employ as few people as possible and be built as cheaply as possible. City hall should be a place you go to two or three times in your entire life. Leave us alone and leave our money alone! They should have spent $100 on a large American flag to hang up instead of close to a hundred thousand dollars for something my daughter could have made.
Dick
March 20th, 2010
2:28 pm
Just like the parks, trails, special events and its unique Town Center, this art and the public arts program is another element that distinguishes Suwanee from all the cookie-cutter towns that surround it in metro Atlanta. It’s these special features and amenities that have kept Suwanee homes values from falling as much as other area communities during this great recession, and why people choose to live in Suwanee. Even the people who don’t use these amenities or care about art, benefit because their property in Suwanee is worth more than if it was located just outside the city limits.
marco
March 20th, 2010
2:36 pm
Ah yes… let’s close the libraries and furlough teachers — but keep our priorities in order with public art boondoggles. If a developer wants to enhance their property so be it, but government should stay out of it.
George
March 20th, 2010
3:06 pm
Stupid idea and this is what is wrong with gov’t today. They just want to take and take and provide crap. Revolution is needed to get rid of the looters.
Scott
March 20th, 2010
3:08 pm
Yeah right Dick. Those property values in Cumming and Johns creek and Alpharetta are do depressed compared to Suwanee. All because of a park and some art. Give me a break.
Cherie
March 20th, 2010
8:32 pm
There is an interesting book – “The Rise of the Creative Class,” and the writer, and others, have identified a culture in the current and rising generation known as the “Creative Class.” These are high achievers who value their environment and seek out places to live – communities and homes – that beckon their creative energies. Creative thinkers are creative problem solvers who can help our society. Community pride and involvement are alive and well in Suwanee. This area is thriving and it’s not simply because we have parks and art but rather that we have the people who are leaders, volunteers and active contributors to our community who appreciate the culture.
Maurice
March 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Ann
March 21st, 2010
10:50 am
Public art is always controversial but always pays great dividends. It enhances the quality of life, improves education and supports the community. It starts conversations, and makes people think and feel. It is a great asset to this or any community in the nation.
Nick Masino
March 21st, 2010
11:49 am
Buzz: Your list is on target but is missing Art. Art was discussed in the first meeting with NCR in January of 2008. It was important to this Fortune 500 company along with everything else you mentioned. Art is not usually the first item discussed like it was with NCR, but it is part of our overall quality of life like libraries, parks and greenspace. Quality of Life is a why many companies relocate and expand in Gwinnett and our Cities. Nick
ashleigh
March 21st, 2010
1:53 pm
This is a total waste of money….just to make Suwanee city hall look fancy?
Nobody cares about some expensive piece of art inside of city hall, except the
Mayor and his staff maybe? My taxes have doubled in the recent years and I know why..
it is being used for frivolous projects. Our tax dollars can be used for more important issues!
GET REAL MAYOR WILLIAMS…DON’T THINK YOU MAY NOT BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE
Rob
March 21st, 2010
4:09 pm
As a fiscal conservative, I can appreciate the sentiment that questions the proper use of taxpayer dollars. However, I do believe our community is well-served by targeted investments in its civic buildings, public spaces, and yes, art. It’s a matter of fostering community pride and increasing quality-of-life.
Though many of the responders to this thread seem to reject these ideas, the majority in Suwanee do support the city’s investments, as evidenced by recent polling that show over 97% of residents rate Suwanee a good or excellent place to live.
Those who are unhappy with Suwanee can find countless soulless, ticky-tacky alternatives throughout suburban Atlanta to move to.
Louise
March 22nd, 2010
11:29 am
Our family recently relocated to Suwanee because of a job transfer – we came from a city where we paid DOUBLE what you do in taxes – with no zoning – apartments and hud housing on every corner, nail and doughnut shops every half a block. You had to drive downtown to enjoy anything cultural and we had no parks to speak of.
What you have here is AMAZING – does anyone want to pay higher taxes? Of coarse not, but I am proud of where we live and we are doing what we can to support our community in many ways – and taking advantage of the things that we never imagined we could. Art is a gift. As are parks, libraries, community events – things that make a community – a community. We have felt so welcomed by Suwanee residents and business owners. I feel grateful that we *get* to live here; having had to relocate so many times in the last 15 years – Suwanee finally feels like home.
Ben
March 22nd, 2010
11:43 am
Thank you Louise. I find some of the comments in here completely sad. Do I think we should take care of our most pressing issues first? Of course. But in times like these, things like public art work is the first kind of thing cut from our lives. We’re talking 1% of a small town budget for the enrichment of that community and to the benefit of all who live there. I, for one, applaud this move by Suwanee. What some in here find frivolous, I think is VITAL to a small community attempting to maintain it’s identity.
Greg Sanders
March 22nd, 2010
11:43 am
I can understand the controversy but why criticize this effort to create a livable, progressive community? This is commendable and forward thinking. Yes money is tight. If the city was in bad shape financially I would be concerned. But they are not. They are conservative and spending decisions are made in the open. In fact this was recommended by a citizen committee. I am really glad that the citizens here support initiatives like this.
Cat
March 22nd, 2010
3:13 pm
I support this initiative 100%. I think it’s one of the many things that sets Suwannee apart and makes it such a great place to live. Keep up the great work!
Suwanee Mom
March 24th, 2010
2:43 pm
Suwanee is a fiscally conservative community with fiscally conservative citizens (for the most part). These are the people who vote and elect the public officials, and time after time, Suwanee’s citizens have voted for officials who want the City to be a progressive and vibrant community. The citizens of Suwanee have pride in their community. Suwanee has managed to have a balanced budget, extremely low unemployment, beautiful parks, and some of the best schools in the country! Suwanee wins both state, regional and national awards for everything from it’s budgeting to it’s community enhancement initiatives, like public art. I am a tax-paying Suwanee resident, and I pay less taxes to the City than to my HOA, and my family gets to experience the benefits of living in this great community. In this tough economy when we don’t have extra pennies to spare, we are grateful that we live in a city where we don’t have to pay money for pricey tickets to find entertainment because we have free parks, free festivals, free concerts, and now a free public art experience to share with our family and friends. I want my children to be proud of the community where they were raised! Let’s leave a legacy of community pride, enrichment and culture, NOT a legacy of strip malls!