200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Suite #733
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-5162
Fax: (714) 765-5164
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
FROM: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
SUBJECT: APPROVE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATION FOR THE
BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES’ PUBLIC ART CHALLENGE
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 11
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
REQUESTED ACTION:
That the City Council, by Resolution:
1. Approve the submittal of an application for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge Grant to temporarily convert the Anaheim Lodge to an art incubator with artist studios known as the ART Lodge; and,
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all required grant documents necessary for the grant application.
BACKGROUND:
In 2018, the City of Anaheim (City) adopted the Beach Boulevard Specific Plan to facilitate the revitalization of Beach Boulevard. While the Beach Boulevard Specific Plan incentivized development through a new zoning framework, the plan still requires individualized efforts from property owners, developers, and business owners to redevelop their properties. Despite significant City investment in the acquisition and development plans of the 39 Commons site and the properties on the southeast corner of Beach Blvd and Lincoln Ave, staff recognized the need for an renewed effort to jumpstart reinvestment on the southern portion of the corridor around Beach Blvd. and Ball Road.
At the December 7, 2021 City Council meeting, a workshop was presented to launch the City’s Rebuild Beach initiative. Rebuild Beach is a renewed effort to address day-to-day public safety and quality of life issues while promoting the long-term redevelopment of Beach Boulevard.
Since that time, staff has been working on a multitude of enforcement efforts, long-term redevelopment, branding, and more. The Rebuild Beach initiative involves an inter- departmental team comprised of staff from Planning, Code Enforcement, Building, City Attorney, Police, Public Works, Economic Development, Housing and Community Development, Audit, Community Services, and Public Utilities working together to address motels and other businesses that have strained City resources, contributed to blight, and impacted the quality of life of nearby residents.
Approve submittal of application for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge February 7, 2023
A key strategy in spurring redevelopment along the corridor is the acquisition of the most distressed and illicit activity inducing motels. At the September 27, 2022 joint meeting of the City Council and Housing Authority, the Governing Board of the Housing Authority approved the purchase of the Anaheim Lodge motel. The Anaheim Lodge is an existing 45-unit, two story motel located at 837 S.
Beach Boulevard in Council District 1 and was purchased on December 29, 2022 for $7.6 million.
DISCUSSION:
The recent purchase of the Anaheim Lodge requires at least two years of planning and implementation to create a mixed-income development inclusive of varying affordable and market rate housing opportunities in alignment with the Beach Boulevard Specific Plan. The City has heard concerns from residents about vacant properties remaining empty for several years due to the likelihood of blight and nuisances that can occur on site.
In December 2022, the Bloomberg Philanthropies opened up applications for their Public Art Challenge. The program supports temporary public art projects that celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public-private collaborations, and strengthen local economies. Selected cities will need to demonstrate close partnership between artists, arts organizations, and city government, and can each receive up to $1 million for art installations and programming that can last up to two years. After reviewing the program’s guidelines, city staff determined that an opportunity existed with the Anaheim Lodge to qualify for this grant opportunity.
In an effort to mitigate nuisances and address public safety on the vacant site, city staff is exploring a creative way to activate the site by transforming the Anaheim Lodge into the ART Lodge. The ART Lodge will become a temporary art incubator, a public canvas, and a community destination, providing a venue for the City to meet with residents and artists to engage in ongoing discussions about the redevelopment of Beach Blvd. As part of the Rebuild Beach initiative, the ART Lodge will activate an empty building into a temporary public art installation and help deter criminal activities from occurring on site.
The ART Lodge project will be managed through a collaborative partnership between the City and MUZEO Museum and Cultural Center (MUZEO). The City will provide administrative direction and support, including tracking project budget, site physical improvements, and project invoicing and reporting. MUZEO will be the lead for artistic direction and will be responsible for recruiting and supporting artists, developing, and implementing ART Lodge events, curating and marketing exhibitions, and building partnerships with the local arts and community organizations. An advisory board inclusive of the City, MUZEO, local arts organizations and community members would be established to shape the programming and onsite art installations.
The City, with MUZEO’s partnership, will submit an application for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge by February 15, 2023. Winners will be announced in fall 2023.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There is no budgetary impact.
Approve submittal of application for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge February 7, 2023
Respectfully submitted, Concurred by, Concurred by,
Jim Vanderpool Grace Ruiz-Stepter Ted White
City Manager Director of Housing and Community Director of Planning Development Department & Building Department
Attachment:
1. Resolution