New art district opposed

• By GREG GARLAND
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 21, 2009 - Page: 1B

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A move to have a stretch of Perkins Road west of College Drive designated as a state-recognized “art district” is running into strong opposition from some nearby homeowners.

Homeowners say they fear it could spur rezoning requests and lead to commercial development in what traditionally have been single-family neighborhoods, such as parts of Southdowns and areas around City Park.

But proponents of creating the art district, which would extend from Perkins Road at Southdowns Shopping Center to the Baton Rouge Art Gallery at City Park, say the fears are unfounded.

The designation of an area as a state-approved art district permits businesses to sell original works of art without charging sales taxes on the purchases.

In addition, special tax credits are available to those who qualify to rehabilitate owner-occupied houses and commercial buildings in the district.

“It’s all about revitalization for an area based on tax incentives,” said Ann Connelly of Ann Connelly Fine Arts, which is in the Southdowns Shopping Center.

Connelly and Jason Andreasen, executive director of the Baton Rouge Gallery at City Park, have been leading efforts to get the art district designation.

“The cultural district we’re proposing is kind of already here,” Andreasen said. “It just wasn’t given that distinction. It’s kind of a natural fit already.”

But representatives of the area’s civic associations are wary.
“We don’t care if they want to include Perkins Road, which is commercial, but when they start pressing into residential areas, that puts a different color on the issue,” said John Berry, who serves on the board of the Southside Civic Association.

Berry and others say they do not have a problem with creating an art district along Perkins Road so businesses such as Connelly’s can sell art without charging sales taxes.

But they balk at the plan to include residential areas inside the district’s boundaries.

“It’s like apples and oranges,” Berry said. “It’s two different concepts.”

The area to be included in the proposed art district is divided between two Metro Council districts, represented by Rodney “Smokie” Bourgeois and Tara Wicker.