WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 9
Ridgewood youth aim to fi ll vacant storefronts
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BY RYAN KELLEY
RKELLEY@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
TWITTER @R_KELLEY6
A group of Ridgewood youth will
help showcase local artists
while raising awareness about
the vacant storefronts on the neighborhood’s
commercial corridors this
weekend at the Myrtle Avenue Business
Improvement District’s (BID) Fall
Street Festival.
The Sept. 23 festival will feature
“The Ridgewood Art Extravaganza,”
an exhibit showcasing work from
local artists through a partnership
between the Greater Ridgewood Youth
Council (GRYC) and the Myrtle Avenue
BID. The exhibit is the second phase
of a $5,000 grant awarded to the GRYC
by Enterprise Community Partners, a
national nonprofi t that fosters collaborative
action between community
development organizations.
The grant — one of only 10 awarded
nationwide — was written and is led by
local urban planner Wylie Goodman,
who said the group is working locally
to highlight a citywide matter.
“The issue of vacant storefronts and
the lack of aff ordable space for artists
and small entrepreneurs is one that
nearly every neighborhood in New
York City is facing,” Goodman said.
“My hope is that by bringing stakeholders
together, among them youth,
artists, building and business owners
and civic leaders, we can brainstorm
solutions tailored to our community.”
During the first phase of the
project earlier this summer, nine
high school students in the GRYC’s
Summer Youth Employment Program
(SYEP) began documenting
the businesses along Myrtle Avenue.
The students learned about how
“creative placemaking” can be used
to make streetscapes more inviting,
Goodman said, and they ultimately
identified nearly 20 vacant storefronts
between Fresh Pond Road and
Wyckoff Avenue.
In addition, the students pointed
out the most represented businesses
along the corridor in an eff ort to suggest
more diverse uses of the vacant
spaces, such as pop-up shops and
galleries. They also met with Myrtle
Avenue BID Executive Director Ted
Renz and Community Board 5 District
Manager Gary Giordano to learn how
civic leadership plays an important
role in their project.
“When we did our Myrtle Avenue
Market Analysis three years ago, one
of the goals was to get a better store
mix and to match the needs of the community,”
said Renz. “We’re therefore
happy to collaborate with the Greater
Ridgewood Youth Council on this
venture.”
“The Ridgewood Art Extravaganza,”
a name that the students came up
with, will be located on Myrtle Avenue
between Onderdonk Avenue and
Forest Avenue during the festival
from noon to 6 p.m. Along with showcasing
local artwork, the students
will be there to provide art activities
for kids and engage the community
in a survey and voting board where
people can share ideas for the types
of businesses they would like to see
in the area.
“The SYEP participants enjoyed
working on this innovative project,”
said Janine Mahon, chief operating
offi cer for education and programs
at the GRYC. “They increased their
understanding of the community in
which they live, and experienced fi rsthand
how working together can create
positive change in their community.”
Artists to be featured in the exhibit
include Raynelda Calderon, Mari Corona,
Mica Miragliotta, Marco Valle
and Nichole van Beek.
The ultimate goal of the grant program
is to identify building owners
who are willing to rent vacant storefronts
to local artists or entrepreneurs
for short- or long-term use. The third
phase — a facilitated dinner and focus
group for community members — is
being planned for early November
with support from the Ridgewood
Savings Bank.
Image Courtesy of Wylie Goodman
A poster for the Ridgewood Art
Extravaganza designed by a GRYC
participant and featuring artwork
from Raynelda Calderon.
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