DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION Committee works to attract arts school

Committee members also have been discussing an entertainment district.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Members of city council's downtown revitalization committee will travel to Pittsburgh this week to visit an arts school they hope to bring to the city.
Councilman Robert Holmes III, D-4th, committee chairman, said he and other committee members plan the trip Friday to the Pittsburgh school, a joint venture of Manchester Craftsmen Guild and Bidwell Training Center. The school focuses on inner-city youth and offers arts and culinary programs.
"It's not a charter school," Holmes said. "It's an after-school, weekend and summertime thing."
Dennis Reynolds, who is affiliated with the school and Irvin Williams, an area pastor, pitched the idea to the committee.
"We have to go visit to let them [the school] know that we're interested," Holmes said.
A location here hasn't been identified.
"It's not a guarantee that we'll get it downtown, but we want to get it downtown," Holmes said.
He said there are several vacant or nearly vacant buildings in the area that would be suitable for the school.
The downtown revitalization committee is a new council meeting established this year at Holmes' urging. Councilmen Robert L. Dean Jr. and Felipe M. Romain Jr., both D-at large, round out committee membership although Holmes said several representatives from downtown businesses and the public at large are participating too.
Entertainment district
Committee members also are discussing creation of an entertainment district in the city.
Concerts and programs at the Warren Community Amphitheater attract people to the city's downtown on nights and weekends, but places to dine before or after a show are scarce, the councilman said. Attendees travel to another community if they want a late night meal or drink.
Most of the restaurants downtown cater to the downtown employee lunch crowd, primarily open during the work day.
"We need a couple more that cater to the night crowd," he said.
Such an entertainment district designation would enable restaurants and bars in that area to obtain liquor licenses at a lower cost. Those licenses would remain in the district, as an owner couldn't transfer it to an establishment outside the district.
Committee members meet Wednesday and one of the items on the agenda is creation of a board to oversee liquor licenses, Holmes said. He favors establishing a committee with appointments made by the downtown committee, council and the administration.
Downtown committee members will make a recommendation to council regarding the committee.
But Holmes stressed that an entertainment district wouldn't be just bars.
"It's fine dining, entertainment and culture," he said.
denise_dick@vindy.com