A decision this week by the Athens-Clarke County Commission has provided funding for new banners for downtown Athens streets, and also provided an opportunity for one local artist or group of artists to have their work displayed year-round on dozens of lightpoles in the downtown area.
As part of approving the allocation of $60,000 in local hotel-motel tax revenue to a number of downtown events recommended for funding by the Athens Downtown Development Authority, the commission on Tuesday gave its OK to spending $6,400 of that hotel-motel tax allocation to replace the aging seasonal banners that have adorned downtown streets for several years.
As part of the replacement process, the ADDA is seeking proposals from local artists for designs for the new banners. Specifically, according to a request for proposals posted online at http://bit.ly/1Vzs6Oh that includes numerous technical requirements for design submissions, the ADDA is looking for four separate seasonal banner designs from each person or group who decides to participate in the project. The winning artist or group will be awarded $2,500 from the ADDA.
Guidelines for the banners are fairly broad, with the request for proposals noting only that designs must “reflect Athens’ unique style yet blend with the seasonal environment” and “must be large and bold enough to be seen from a distance.”
The deadline for design submissions is Nov. 2, with a selection panel set to meet on Nov. 6 to recommend a finalist for approval by the ADDA board. The panel has yet to be selected, according to ADDA business coordinator Christi Christian, who said the panel likely will comprise five people with artistic expertise, probably including some representation from the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission, a county-commission-appointed group that advises the county government on arts and cultural issues.
Current scheduling calls for the ADDA board to make a decision at its November meeting, with the banners ready for hanging downtown by February, according to Christian.
In addition to approving the $6,400 banner expenditure, the county commission’s approval of the current fiscal year’s Community Enhancement Program allocated $10,000 each to the Twilight Criterium bicycle race and the AthFest arts and music festival; $7,000 each to the Hot Corner Celebration and the Slingshot arts, music and technology festival; $4,000 each to the Parade of Lights, the downtown Athens Farmers Market and the Athens Symphony Orchestra; $2,000 to Wild Rumpus, $1,000 to the FilmAthens Sprockets event and $500 to Rose of Athens theatre events.
Other CEP funding includes $1,500 for special electrical and water services for downtown events and $2,600 in contingency funding.
In other business Tuesday, Athens-Clarke commissioners approved a final list of potential sites for both a new Cooperative Extension Service building and a replacement for Fire Station 2, located on Atlanta Highway at Mitchell Bridge Road.
Taken off the list of potential sites for the fire station was a tract at 299 Commerce Boulevard, which Commissioner Jerry NeSmith said was problematic due to traffic issues. Remaining on the list of potential sites are two tracts on Ben Burton Circle off Atlanta Highway, and two sites in the 100 block of Mill Center Boulevard.
Taken off the list of potential sites for the Cooperative Extension office was the 562 Research Drive property currently owned by the YWCO. Replacing that Research Road site as a result of Tuesday commission action is a county-owned tract at 2665 Lexington Road, pressed by Commissioner Mike Hamby for its economic development potential, since it is located on a major local corridor. Hamby has argued that siting a government office on the corridor could prompt businesses such as restaurants to locate in the immediate area.
Other sites on the list of potential Extension Service office locations are two Ben Burton Circle tracts, a Milledge Avenue tract owned by the University of Georgia, a site in the 200 block of Research Drive, and a tract in the 400 block of Gaines School Road.
A citizens advisory committee chaired by Commissioner Harry Sims is slated to review the potential sites and present a recommendation to the commission at some point in the near future.
Construction of the new fire station and Cooperative Extension Service office is being funded with proceeds of a 1 percent local sales tax approved by voters in a 2010 referendum.
