Watch the KMOV Channel 4 News Broadcast on Chouteau’s Landing on Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Art galleries and venues often serve as economic development spurs to regressive neighborhoods. However, the impact of the arts has not only proven powerful to communities, but also to the bottom line of businesses. Creative work spaces, engaging work environments and imaginative sales rooms are all proven methods of encouraging employee productivity, consumer confidence and increased sales.

Here are some links to news stories and organizations that talk about the impact of the arts on economics:

What Do Our Arts & Cultural Institutions Bring to the Economic Table?

Three Studies, One Goal, Learn Economic Impact of Art

Galleries Gain Ground, St. Louis proves…

Art Under the Arch, Revitalized….

Who’s Who in Arts Business and Culture

Art & Business - UK

Americans For The Arts

Arts & Business Council of Chicago

Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

The progress in Chouteau’s Landing as Bushwoods nears opening day is peaking a lot of interest in St. Louis. This is your chance to catch up on the highlights.

Watch the 6 o’clock news on KMOV Channel 4 TONIGHT to see coverage on Chouteau’s Landing and the opening of Bushwoods.

Read the article that appeared in the Real Estate section of the Friday, March 21, 2008, issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“Developer Sees Chouteau’s Landing as Arts District”

by Angela Tablac

Upcoming, watch for an article by Jim Merkel by South Side Suburban Journal this week or next.

The finishing touches are nearing completion at Bushwoods on Fourth Street. Manager Rick Macias expects the bar and grill to open no later than April 10, 2008. The venue features a 1,900-square-foot patio and a 3,250-square-foot interior.

The building’s renovation includes the reconstruction of its historic storefront as well as the addition of striking tin ceiling tiles. Exposed brick and the original bar further add to the historic charm of Bushwoods.

Last month, we asked you about how much you valued the arts organizations and events available to you in St. Louis. This month, we want to know what prevents or encourages your attendance at art events in the City?

Let us know what makes a difference to you, by posting your comment below.

Construction at 756 Historic Fourth Street is nearly complete. In a few weeks, the remainder of Cbabi Bayoc and Bryan Walsh’s mural will come down and reveal the entire storefront for Bushwoods Bar and Grill. Designed to historic standards, the 756 storefront will soon be followed in early summer by the completion of 904 Historic Fourth Street’s facade.

Just blocks from the stadium, Bushwoods Bar and Grill, with its historic hardwood bar and exposed brick walls, is the perfect place to catch Cardinal’s games during the 2008 Season.  Bushwoods’ official grand opening will be held in the next month! Check back for the latest updates.

New building and lamppost signs went up in January in an effort to better define the Chouteau’s Landing district and promote commercial leasing along Historic Fourth Street. Tenants for 904 Historic Fourth Street will be announced soon. In addition, several other buildings along this emerging retail neighborhood are scheduled to enter production this year.

Call Andy at 314.994.4093 to learn about the unique leasing opportunities available now! Be among the first to join
the future Chouteau’s Landing art district.

Credit to Chouteau’s Landing’s growing reputation, Phase I of the district’s renovation was named St. Louis’ 8th largest Development Project in the
St. Louis Business Journal’s “Book of Lists.” Additionally, Steve Murphy, president of Chivvis Development discussed the role of Chouteau’s Landing in
“The Revitalization of Downtown St. Louis” article that appeared in the January/February 2008 Chicago-based Strategize Magazine.

In September 2007, Chivvis Development aligned with Art Space Creative, a Chicago-based consulting team responsible for developing River East Art Center in Chicago, Illinois. Hired as consultants under a 90-day, Phase I contract, Art Space Creative will develop a comprehensive operating plan for The Artery, an interactive arts center scheduled to be housed in Powell Square in Chouteau’s Landing.

“The Artery is key to our overall plans for the Chouteau’s Landing district,” said Gelinda Connell, Chivvis Development’s development director. “Art Space Creative’s input will drive our 58-acre district development into high gear. This is an exciting and promising step for Chouteau’s Landing and the
St. Louis region.”

The Artery is expected to anchor the Chouteau’s Landing district. Chivvis’ alliance with Art Space Creative is the first step in molding The Artery into a successful, accessible and diverse arts destination in the Midwest thereby redefining St. Louis’ role in the national art scene as well as improving the City skyline and adding fuel to Downtown’s urban renaissance.

Led by Mikki Markowicz, Art Space Creative’s team will complete site-use plans for The Artery and the surrounding Chouteau’s Landing district as well as submit a market research and feasibility plan, a business model, team-building plan and budget forecast for The Artery. These results will be available at ChouteausLanding.com in early 2008.

Art Space Creative is an organization that works with developers and community leaders to enhance reuse projects. By melding an array of business services with arts and entertainment venues, Art Space Creative helps property owners create a destination.

“I see this as a fabulous opportunity to take lessons learned while developing River East Art Center and leveraging this knowledge as we collaborate to develop The Artery,” said Markowicz. “Chivvis is a dynamic and forward-thinking team that shares Art Space Creative’s overall vision. Our shared goal is to create a place that becomes a community for visual and performing arts organizations and individuals. Plus, my team has a high regard for St. Louis’ current renaissance and appreciates how it will enhance The Artery’s development.”

Both Art Space Creative and Chivvis Development expect their alliance to extend beyond the initial 90-day term and foresee commitments by both organizations to be more enduring.

“Art Space Creative’s initial proposal for The Artery is as close as anyone has come to matching my vision for The Artery,” said Steve Murphy, president of Chivvis Development. “I believe Art Space Creative is the perfect team to kick-start this project.”

Hundreds of guests stopped to visit the Chouteau’s Landing booth at the 2007 Taste of St. Louis from Sept. 21-23. Best of all, many of you stayed to talk wanting to learn about our plans, what you can expect to see happen next and to share your excitement about the project.

With so many projects underway in St. Louis, especially Downtown, it was great to know that Chouteau’s Landing stands out. Your enthusiasm for Chouteau’s Landing and The Artery is only an added incentive for us to succeed.

There has been a lot of activity behind the scenes throughout 2007, and we can’t wait for all that this means for 2008. Keep checking back to learn about Chouteau’s Landing Sponsorships and Events. And of course, continue to visit to track the progress of the development.

As a sponsor of the 2007 Wall Ball fundraiser for SCOSAG, Chouteau’s Landing is excited to see the event making headlines again as the RFT’s “Best Fundraiser.

This is what the Riverfront Times wrote:

Wall Ball

“For the fourth incarnation of its extremely popular Wall Ball fundraiser, South City Open Studio and Gallery (4255 Arsenal Street, St. Louis; www.scosag.org or 314-865-0060) announced a change of venue: from the City Museum to Third Degree Glass Factory (www.stlglass.com). The move seemed to shake something loose in the crowd. Don’t get us wrong, the audience for Wall Ball has always been energetic and generous, and the artists themselves respond well to the pressure of having to create a work of art before a live(ly) audience in less than three hours. But this year the pace seemed a bit more frenetic, a touch more electric. Maybe it was because of the heat blasting out of the massive furnaces in the vast main studio, or the close quarters of the tent on the side lawn; maybe it was sparked when Peat Wollaeger set up a tiny wrestling ring near his easel and had two luchador kids grapple wildly for twenty minutes. Whatever the reason, the crowd was into it, and that enthusiasm spread to the artists. There was much more laughter this year on the working side of those easels, a greater sense of joy in their toil — and the finished pieces, all silent-auctioned off to help SCOSAG help the kids — reflected the energy and passion St. Louisans generate when they get together. Wall Ball is a graphic reminder that the arts aren’t just thriving in the River City, they’re living in the River City — in our artists and the non-artists alike.”

To learn about other Best Of winners, visit the RFT.