“A year from now, downtown Wilmington will be a different place.”
Bill Taylor, Light Up The Queen Foundation executive director ended our conversation last week on this confident note. A testimony to his vision or his hubris? Time will tell.
The Queen breaks ground on its $24 million renovation 10 a.m. Oct. 2, Aisle Say is the first to report. A spate of dignitaries with ceremonial hard hats and silver tipped shovels will be on display that day followed by what Taylor describes as “the biggest street party in the history of Wilmington.”
A great accomplishment, this fund raising, this corralling of public and private resources, this incorporation of Hal Real of Philly's World Cafe Live into the entertainment mix.
But it's not about the money, and the single biggest threat to its success has never been material.
It's always been that amorphous dreaded "perception" of downtown after dark -- the same problem that has hovered above Market Street for decades like the wispy apparitions from “Ghostbusters.”
Is Wilmington safe after 5 p.m.?
This is the fundamental issue that must be resolved to the public's satisfaction. Nothing else comes close. And perception, dear readers, is most difficult to quantify and reconcile. The question has haunted downtown since Rob and Chris Buccini were in lower school at Wilmington Friends and our riverfront was a desolate toxic graveyard of shipbuilding sites.
Steve Bailey, The Grand executive director, says the facts are clear: Wilmington is a much safer downtown than the majority of cities its size. Even so, people are fearful.
Thus, Taylor's adamant statement that substantive relief – think John Wayne as a calvary captain in “Fort Apache” – is over the horizon.
“We have made a major investment in safety and police protection,” he says. “There will be police patrolling on foot and bike. When The Queen opens, there will be security guards in and around the venue at all times. Our success is based on safety.”
Buccini Pollin Group has invested tens of millions of dollars in the city. They have staked their personal reputations on downtown's success.
For Rob Buccini, The Queen, at 5th & Market streets is the centerpiece of downtown, linking their Residences of Rodney Square apartments to Justison Landing and their high rise and low rise developments on the Riverfront. Even now, construction is in full swing to turn the Great Room of The Residences into a new restaurant, The Publick House. Across the street at the former WSFS headquarters, the BPGroup is deciding what to do with this property. Once proposed as a boutique hotel, those plans have been dropped.
The 18-month Queen construction project will eventually house a venue for 800 guests and a restaurant serving 200 -- not unlike the World Cafe Live in Philly. There will be private event spaces on the Market Street side and studios for a WXPN satellite radio station. Giving back with a plethora of education is in the mix as well.
For more information, visit LightUpTheQueen.org
Showing posts with label buccini-pollin group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buccini-pollin group. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Arts alive in economic downturn
The urgent letter 10,000 Grand Opera House supporters received last week was disturbing. Patrons were asked to donate $150 each by July to underwrite a budget shortfall of $500,000.
The prospect of The Grand shuttering its doors is preposterous. It is our Empire State Building, our Golden Gate Bridge.
Executive Director Steve Bailey has not suggest the institution is about to close, but the implications are clear. And perceptions rule, so it is surprising that this financial hiccup was not resolved behind closed doors.
The Grand, along with seven other statewide arts institutions, receives payment from The Arts Stabilization Fund, a state/corporate endowment. They all rely on this endowment to maintain their facilities, and we all know about equity loss these days.
In the midst of a a lot of bad news for the arts, there are a few bright spots. The Grand's letter comes the same week that Aisle Say reported that three quarters of the $24 million needed has been committed for The Queen Theatre, a long-vacant entertainment venue three blocks south of the Grand that a public-private partnership hopes to revive as a hip, new "World Cafe Live South" of sorts.
Rob Buccini, whose development company has invested loads to revive Market Street, and who owns The Queen, recently called this latest venture "the most important project we have ever done.” If Buccini makes a comment like that, well, break out the silver shovels for the photo op.
Hopes are high for The Queen's success. But as Buccini has also said, the viability of Wilmington's arts and entertainment life depends on creating and maintaining a critical mass. It's time to consider new strategies to ensure the future of the arts. How about a co-op for economies of scale discounts for all institutions? What about consolidation: move some institutions into available space in others?
This may be blasphemy to suggest, but, for example, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art on the Riverfront has a prime location any developer would love. What about moving to some of The Grand's empty floors? More traffic for both could result.
Film making is art. Wilmington University has a strong program. The city should entice them to move that division to Market Street. More blasphemy, perhaps, but it would fill some of Buccini-Pollin's empty space, and more importantly, it would bring more of a critical ingredient – students – to downtown to join Delaware College of Art and Design's students already there. Critical mass, once again. Creative partnerships, too?
The Grand's Bailey could work a deal with Sandy Robbins of the University of Delaware Professional Theater Training Program to drive traffic to the little-used downtown 300-seat facility. There is no finer acting in the state than the theatre training program and their newly-established professional group, the Resident Ensemble Players. Their home base is at Hartshorn Hall in Newark, so expanding its productions to Wilmington might draw a crowd who won't drive south.
The prospect of The Grand shuttering its doors is preposterous. It is our Empire State Building, our Golden Gate Bridge.
Executive Director Steve Bailey has not suggest the institution is about to close, but the implications are clear. And perceptions rule, so it is surprising that this financial hiccup was not resolved behind closed doors.
The Grand, along with seven other statewide arts institutions, receives payment from The Arts Stabilization Fund, a state/corporate endowment. They all rely on this endowment to maintain their facilities, and we all know about equity loss these days.
In the midst of a a lot of bad news for the arts, there are a few bright spots. The Grand's letter comes the same week that Aisle Say reported that three quarters of the $24 million needed has been committed for The Queen Theatre, a long-vacant entertainment venue three blocks south of the Grand that a public-private partnership hopes to revive as a hip, new "World Cafe Live South" of sorts.
Rob Buccini, whose development company has invested loads to revive Market Street, and who owns The Queen, recently called this latest venture "the most important project we have ever done.” If Buccini makes a comment like that, well, break out the silver shovels for the photo op.
Hopes are high for The Queen's success. But as Buccini has also said, the viability of Wilmington's arts and entertainment life depends on creating and maintaining a critical mass. It's time to consider new strategies to ensure the future of the arts. How about a co-op for economies of scale discounts for all institutions? What about consolidation: move some institutions into available space in others?
This may be blasphemy to suggest, but, for example, the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art on the Riverfront has a prime location any developer would love. What about moving to some of The Grand's empty floors? More traffic for both could result.
Film making is art. Wilmington University has a strong program. The city should entice them to move that division to Market Street. More blasphemy, perhaps, but it would fill some of Buccini-Pollin's empty space, and more importantly, it would bring more of a critical ingredient – students – to downtown to join Delaware College of Art and Design's students already there. Critical mass, once again. Creative partnerships, too?
The Grand's Bailey could work a deal with Sandy Robbins of the University of Delaware Professional Theater Training Program to drive traffic to the little-used downtown 300-seat facility. There is no finer acting in the state than the theatre training program and their newly-established professional group, the Resident Ensemble Players. Their home base is at Hartshorn Hall in Newark, so expanding its productions to Wilmington might draw a crowd who won't drive south.
Monday, February 16, 2009
"Save The Queen" in Wilmington Delaware
To say the long-vacant Queen Theatre on Market Street is dilapidated is to hint that mother of octuplets Nadya Suleman may have too many kids. To say it is cavernous is akin to suggesting the Grand Canyon is a mere slice in the earth.
But years ago I wrote an opinion piece entitled “Save The Queen” (the theatre, not Liz ), calling for its revival. Now the Buccini-Pollin Group is doing just that.
No one can accuse Mayor Baker's two best friends – Rob and Chris Buccini – of small-minded Lilliputian thinking. To the contrary, they are the broad-thinking Brobdingnagians of Delaware.
They own most of Market Street. But they realized the cornerstone of their $250 million redevelopment project was a 50,000-square-foot edifice smack in the middle of their properties spanning 10th Street to the Riverfront. The behemoth has sat deteriorating for 49 years.
The model for the renovated Queen is Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, a very, very happenin' live music venue that draws an eclectic array of acts from celebrated artists to emerging ones. It is an investor and will be the operator of the Queen; delivering musical fuel from Philly to energize downtown Wilmington faster than the Alaska pipeline.
Entertainment draws traffic, and eventually the three Big R's: renters, retailers and restaurants.
With its promise of solid economic and cultural development, its no surprise that the City of Wilmington has backed it with $1 million and already grants have been committed from The Longwood Foundation and The Welfare Foundation. (Thank you P.S duPont of Longwood Gardens fame).
World Cafe will follow its successful paradigm of a non-profit/for profit partnership. Marshalling the non-profit arm is Wilmington-born Bill Taylor.
Taylor and Chris Buccini are childhood friends that attended Wilmington Friends together, boarding school for high school and went on to Princeton together. But more importantly, Taylor ran the legendary Tipitina's Restaurant in “N'awlins.” More than having some of the best music in a city known for its music, Tipitini's had a foundation that helped to rescue the city's tradition after after Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, he created Instruments a Comin', which bought new instruments for every New Orleans school. He plans to replicate that kind of effort here.
The Light Up The Queen Foundation will create educational programming to engage and serve the community, exploring a range of cultures and perspectives. Workshops, master sessions, musical instrument distribution, and an artist co-op space are already planned.
And finally, dear readers, an Aisle Say quick quiz: In the movie “Robin Hood,” who served the King's English with more beauty, elegance and grace? Was it Errol Flynn in the '50s or Kevin Costner in the '90s? No question on that one. (Oh, that Midwestern monotone so did not work!) However in “Field of Dreams,” Costner did utter the mantra that will become the Queen's -- “build it and they will come.”
But years ago I wrote an opinion piece entitled “Save The Queen” (the theatre, not Liz ), calling for its revival. Now the Buccini-Pollin Group is doing just that.
No one can accuse Mayor Baker's two best friends – Rob and Chris Buccini – of small-minded Lilliputian thinking. To the contrary, they are the broad-thinking Brobdingnagians of Delaware.
They own most of Market Street. But they realized the cornerstone of their $250 million redevelopment project was a 50,000-square-foot edifice smack in the middle of their properties spanning 10th Street to the Riverfront. The behemoth has sat deteriorating for 49 years.
The model for the renovated Queen is Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, a very, very happenin' live music venue that draws an eclectic array of acts from celebrated artists to emerging ones. It is an investor and will be the operator of the Queen; delivering musical fuel from Philly to energize downtown Wilmington faster than the Alaska pipeline.
Entertainment draws traffic, and eventually the three Big R's: renters, retailers and restaurants.
With its promise of solid economic and cultural development, its no surprise that the City of Wilmington has backed it with $1 million and already grants have been committed from The Longwood Foundation and The Welfare Foundation. (Thank you P.S duPont of Longwood Gardens fame).
World Cafe will follow its successful paradigm of a non-profit/for profit partnership. Marshalling the non-profit arm is Wilmington-born Bill Taylor.
Taylor and Chris Buccini are childhood friends that attended Wilmington Friends together, boarding school for high school and went on to Princeton together. But more importantly, Taylor ran the legendary Tipitina's Restaurant in “N'awlins.” More than having some of the best music in a city known for its music, Tipitini's had a foundation that helped to rescue the city's tradition after after Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, he created Instruments a Comin', which bought new instruments for every New Orleans school. He plans to replicate that kind of effort here.
The Light Up The Queen Foundation will create educational programming to engage and serve the community, exploring a range of cultures and perspectives. Workshops, master sessions, musical instrument distribution, and an artist co-op space are already planned.
And finally, dear readers, an Aisle Say quick quiz: In the movie “Robin Hood,” who served the King's English with more beauty, elegance and grace? Was it Errol Flynn in the '50s or Kevin Costner in the '90s? No question on that one. (Oh, that Midwestern monotone so did not work!) However in “Field of Dreams,” Costner did utter the mantra that will become the Queen's -- “build it and they will come.”
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Queen Theatre Wilmington Delaware
In 1997 I wrote an opinion piece in the News Journal entitled “Save The Queen” (the theatre, not Liz ). The Buccini-Pollin Group has done just that.
To say The Queen is cavernous is akin to suggesting the Grand Canyon is a mere slice in the earth. To say The Queen is dilapidated is to hint that Nadya Suleman may have too many kids.
No one can accuse Mayor Baker's two best friends – Rob and Chris Buccini – of Lilliputian thinking. To the contrary, they are the Brobdingnagians of Delaware. They own most of Market Street. But they realized that the cornerstone of their $250 million redevelopment project was a 50,000 square foot edifice sitting right in the middle of their properties at 10th & Market to the Riverfront. The behemoth had sat vacant for 49 years.
Entertainment draws traffic...and eventually the three Big R's: renters, retailers and restaurants.
The model for the renovated Queen is Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, a very very happenin' live music venue. World Cafe, a non-profit, draws an eclectic array of acts – blues, rock, folk and world music; from celebrated artists to emerging ones. This theme will be followed in Wilmington.
I attended World Cafe last weekend to see a local Brazilian drum group. They rocked the place. Food and libations are available after a slight cover.
In fact, World Cafe Live is an investor in The Queen and will be the operator; delivering musical fuel from Philly as fluidly as the Iraqi pipeline. (well, ok, that's not a great analogy).
Brought in from New Orleans to marshal the project is Wilmington-born Bill Taylor. Taylor went to school with Chris Buccini but more importantly he ran the legendary Tipitina's Restaurant in “Nawlins”. In addition to having some of the best music in a city known for its music, Tipitini's had a foundation that helped to rescue the city's tradition. Www.tipitinas.com
Says Taylor, “after Katrina we created a fund raiser called “instruments a comin”. The end result was that the Foundation bought new instruments for every New Orleans school.” Other endeavors of the Foundation will be incorporated in the mission of The Queen and Taylor intends to “take the successes in New Orleans and replicate them here.”
$18 million of the $25 million project is raised says Taylor. The Queen's own Foundation, Light Up The Queen” is up and running. The City of Wilmington invested $1 million and grants are committed from The Longwood Foundation and The Welfare Foundation. (Thank you P.S duPont of Longwood Gardens fame).
World Cafe will follow its successful paradigm of a non-profit/for profit partnership. The completed project will include a main performing hall with dining, a second stage for live music in a casual dining venue, banquet/event space on the upper floors and a studio for regional broadcast of WXPN.
The Light Up The Queen Foundation will be responsible for creating educational programming that will engage and serve the community, exploring a range of cultures and perspectives. Workshops, master sessions, distribution of musical instruments, and an artist co-op space are already planned.
To promote the project, Taylor is staging a series of gigs at the Crosby-Hill Building at 605 Market St. Singer Sharon Little appears February 19. The next day, the 20th, Taylor is hosting the “1st Annual Mardi Gras on Market Street.” This is a fund raiser for The Queen. The entertainment includes legendary musicians from New Orleans. Party goers are encouraged to come in costume. Www.LightUpTheQueen.org
To say The Queen is cavernous is akin to suggesting the Grand Canyon is a mere slice in the earth. To say The Queen is dilapidated is to hint that Nadya Suleman may have too many kids.
No one can accuse Mayor Baker's two best friends – Rob and Chris Buccini – of Lilliputian thinking. To the contrary, they are the Brobdingnagians of Delaware. They own most of Market Street. But they realized that the cornerstone of their $250 million redevelopment project was a 50,000 square foot edifice sitting right in the middle of their properties at 10th & Market to the Riverfront. The behemoth had sat vacant for 49 years.
Entertainment draws traffic...and eventually the three Big R's: renters, retailers and restaurants.
The model for the renovated Queen is Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, a very very happenin' live music venue. World Cafe, a non-profit, draws an eclectic array of acts – blues, rock, folk and world music; from celebrated artists to emerging ones. This theme will be followed in Wilmington.
I attended World Cafe last weekend to see a local Brazilian drum group. They rocked the place. Food and libations are available after a slight cover.
In fact, World Cafe Live is an investor in The Queen and will be the operator; delivering musical fuel from Philly as fluidly as the Iraqi pipeline. (well, ok, that's not a great analogy).
Brought in from New Orleans to marshal the project is Wilmington-born Bill Taylor. Taylor went to school with Chris Buccini but more importantly he ran the legendary Tipitina's Restaurant in “Nawlins”. In addition to having some of the best music in a city known for its music, Tipitini's had a foundation that helped to rescue the city's tradition. Www.tipitinas.com
Says Taylor, “after Katrina we created a fund raiser called “instruments a comin”. The end result was that the Foundation bought new instruments for every New Orleans school.” Other endeavors of the Foundation will be incorporated in the mission of The Queen and Taylor intends to “take the successes in New Orleans and replicate them here.”
$18 million of the $25 million project is raised says Taylor. The Queen's own Foundation, Light Up The Queen” is up and running. The City of Wilmington invested $1 million and grants are committed from The Longwood Foundation and The Welfare Foundation. (Thank you P.S duPont of Longwood Gardens fame).
World Cafe will follow its successful paradigm of a non-profit/for profit partnership. The completed project will include a main performing hall with dining, a second stage for live music in a casual dining venue, banquet/event space on the upper floors and a studio for regional broadcast of WXPN.
The Light Up The Queen Foundation will be responsible for creating educational programming that will engage and serve the community, exploring a range of cultures and perspectives. Workshops, master sessions, distribution of musical instruments, and an artist co-op space are already planned.
To promote the project, Taylor is staging a series of gigs at the Crosby-Hill Building at 605 Market St. Singer Sharon Little appears February 19. The next day, the 20th, Taylor is hosting the “1st Annual Mardi Gras on Market Street.” This is a fund raiser for The Queen. The entertainment includes legendary musicians from New Orleans. Party goers are encouraged to come in costume. Www.LightUpTheQueen.org
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