Saratoga Springs might be known for its vibrant arts scene, but the Beekman Street corridor many local artists call home has undergone changes during the recession. Now, stakeholders are working to ensure a revitalization of the area continues.
The Beekman Street Arts District is a three-block area comprised of art galleries, studios and restaurants and provides a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Saratoga’s Broadway corridor.
In 2000, clay sculptor and painter Amejo Amyot founded the Beekman Street Association in an effort to create a street that was “just art related.” Its mission is to “to form a community to support artists and their work and businesses.”
But since the association’s formation, the arts district has been impacted by the recession. Many tenants have packed their bags, but the group of 13 that makes up the association is looking to revitalize the district once again.
“Last year it started to build itself back up with a lot of talented people coming in,” said Amyot.
Artist Sharon Crute is one of those artists. She has a gallery and studio at 70 B Beekman Street.
“Arts in general have been affected by the recession. Many galleries in NYC went under. There was no artist that wasn’t affected. … But we’re making a comeback,” said Crute.
Crute is best known for her equine paintings, and is the official artist for the 2012 Steeplechase. The inaugural event for that race will be held on Sept. 15. She’ll also be showing and selling her work all season long at the track this summer.
Her husband Michael Bray initiated First Friday Art Walks in the district, something he also started in Ocala, Fla., where they lived until last year.
First Fridays are the first Friday of the month from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Artists on Beekman Street invite their friends to set up their creations along the sidewalks for visitors to view or buy.
The association is now throwing its efforts into making a proposal to the City of Saratoga Springs that would set a definite direction for the district’s growth.
Firstly, the association wants to see the finishing of “the structural parts of the street” near West Circular Street, where sidewalks are broken up. If the proposal were to go through, the sidewalks would be repaired and street lamps would be installed to finish off the district.
“It will tie us all together. We have two blocks and then thisorphan down at the other end,” Amyot said.
There are big picture plans for the future under development, too.
Jon Haynes is a planner with Phinney Design in Lawrence. He has been working with the association to develop modifications to the existingNUCD-1 zoning district, where Beekman Street is located.
“The intent is to encourage continued growth and development of the arts district and streamline the approval process for select preferred uses, to further encourage artists and businesses that might otherwise be discouraged by a lengthy and expensive approval processes,” said Haynes.
He added they also are working to develop an expansion plan for the district, with the “intent to tie the district in to public areas, including Broadway and Franklin Square.”
“The Broadway and Franklin square expansion is intended to create a pedestrian corridor/connection to Broadway and downtown. After developing the revised map and regulations, the association presented the draft to the neighbors within the affected area. We gathered neighbor feedback from this presentation, and included a number of the neighbors on the association’s zoning committee. We then worked together to adjust the draft to address the neighbors comments and concerns,” he wrote in an email.
Haynes and members of the association hope to do more neighborhood outreach and plan on presenting a development proposal to the City Council this fall.
The association advertises to ballet and track audiences, and has seen some traffic from those venues pass through the street.
“It’s been a high energy contribution that kind of got everybody else spiked again. … When new people come in, they bring new life and revitalizes the rest of us,” said Amyot.
Amyot crafts her art at 79 Beekman Street along with a number of other artists at The Artist’s Studios.
