Ever been to the Hyattsville Arts District?
Yeah, we didn’t know it existed either. But apparently, it does. And sadly, it’s not flourishing. Just two-and-a-half miles south of the campus, urban planners have envisioned a U-Street corridor fit for Prince George’s County. Nearly ten years ago, the planning began, and in 2003, the state designated a strip of Route 1 in Hyattsville, “The Gateway Arts District.”
The result? Well, according to today’s Washington Post, progress has been slow.
“Auto repair shops, industrial buildings and empty storefronts occupy prime real estate. Mounds of dirt and overgrown weeds sit behind a sign announcing that stores, lofts and restaurants are “coming soon” as part of a $150 million project being developed by the Bethesda-based firm EYA. The sign has sat by the side of the road for almost two years.”
About 150 artists have moved into the area, and a handful of art galleries have sprouted up as well. A museum dedicated to African American history is being planned for the area, as is a Busboys and Poets.
But proponents of the plan say investors have been shy to put drop cash in the area amidst the dour economy.
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The Hyattsville Arts District - From the Washington Post