Reimagining Railroad Square

Two tornados converged at Railroad Square on May 10th and ravaged our community, unforgiving to most of the 60-80 year old metal warehouses that display the largest collection of public art in the City.  In the aftermath, some buildings clearly require demolition, some have minor damage that will be repaired soon, and for many buildings we do not yet have an assessment of the feasibility of repairs. Our hearts are aching for our hard-working creative entrepreneurs and artists in Railroad Square, all of whom have been impacted by the tornado destruction this past week.

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This tornado was a life-altering event for many in Leon County, including ourselves, who have owned and stewarded Railroad Square for the last 22 years. Many people have asked if the buildings impacted at Railroad Square were insured, and we are sad to say that the answer is no. Most of the buildings are not insured.  Due to the age and condition of the buildings, as well as the high insurance rates in Florida, the expense of property insurance would not have allowed us to keep rental rates affordable for our tenants.  Furthermore, many of the non-modernized 1940’s wood and tin warehouses would likely not even be insurable. 

We have invested significantly into modernizing some of the buildings, but at this point, our resources to continue financially supporting the entirety of the 8-acre property are depleted.  We were just teenagers when our mother passed away, leaving us with this blessing and tremendous responsibility.  We have devoted our entire adult lives to this mission because we understand what a treasured community resource Railroad Square is.  The Art District allows creative entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, draws an incredible diversity of people and serves as both a major tourist destination and an economic development catalyst for our community. 

However, since the tornado destruction, we are unable to continue to run the art district on our own with its current borders.  It is a very large property consisting of about 20 buildings, and due to modernized building codes, it is not financially feasible to preserve or attempt to re-create 1940’s/50’s/60’s warehouses once severely damaged.  We have operated for a long time with a low profit margin, keeping the rents as low as possible while still allowing us to remain in business.  

It has always been our hope that the City of Tallahassee, or a related government entity, would purchase at least a portion of Railroad Square, and make it a publicly run or non-profit-owned community resource.  We have met with City officials for many years to encourage this to occur and have proposed this to two mayors.  Seven years ago, we informed a group of City staff and elected officials that we could not do this on our own much longer, and their involvement was necessary to retain Tallahassee’s historic Art District. They expressed conceptual support but no forward movement.  

In 2018, we collaborated on a 100+ page research-based grant application for a performing arts center to be built in Railroad Square (“TPAC”) – a project which was deemed ineligible and never considered for funding. In 2020, we met with COCA and offered to help build out a “COCA-run Arts Incubator” in Railroad Square’s Breezeway Market.  In 2021 and 2022, we offered to donate a parcel of land for the TLH Arts project – a multi-use arts facility that would have also been a great driver for economic development. None of these projects ever moved forward, despite our willingness to contribute to making them happen. 

If it is determined that there are not funds or interest for a government entity to purchase part or all of Railroad Square, there are alternative ways for the City or a related entity, such as the CRA, to get involved in providing support for a new development that would both provide for community needs and surround a smaller footprint of the historic art district.  As far back as 2007, we were involved in the conceptualization of a mixed-use (residential and commercial) development that would have provided affordable live-work housing and studio spaces for “the creative class.”  In 2018, we demonstrated that new development is not only required but can also support the Art District.  We negotiated with the Hyatt House to commission local art for their hotel.  The hotel is now a major economic driver for Railroad Square businesses.  Many from the public who vocalized their distaste for new development do not realize how pleased Railroad Square businesses are for the existence of this hotel, as it contributes to increased patronage and income.

The bottom line is that we can no longer be the sole stewards or owners of Tallahassee’s Art District.  A privately-owned art district is unprecedented. Typically, art districts are owned and maintained by a combination of government funding, non-profit organizations, and private business. Spaces for artists and small creative entrepreneurs must be subsidized in order for these spaces to be affordable. 

We are currently in talks with City and County elected leaders and hope they will find a way to quickly purchase at least a portion of Tallahassee’s Art District to preserve this community jewel.  While many of the buildings may not be able to be salvaged, the City can use its resources to reimagine the Creative District with a mixture of new and old construction.  

We believe Tallahassee’s Art District –like other art districts around the country— must include a mixture of ownership by non-profits, local municipalities, and private owners. Given the large size of the property, there are multitude of possibilities that would provide a long-term, sustainable creative district that continues to provide for both the economic development and uniqueness of Tallahassee.  

Written By: 

Lily B. Kaye and Adam Kaye

Co-Owners, Railroad Square LLC

QUOTE FROM OWNER:

“We don't feel like it makes sense for one family to own the city’s arts and cultural center. Every other city’s creative district has more diverse ownership, so why not Tallahassee too? We are offering to give the city and the county first right of refusal to purchase some or all of the art district. This is not a bailout for a private business, as they would actually own this valuable property that will continue to appreciate. In addition to the real estate value appreciation, the art district remaining in the public domain (either wholly or partially) provides many ripple benefits for our community as it serves as a local catalyst for entrepreneurship, tourism, and economic development (improving quality of life ratings, which improve employee attraction & retention). There is a very real and significant financial ROI for the community.”

-Lily Boynton Kaye

Co-Owner Railroad Square LLC

IDEAS FOR PUBLIC & COmmunity OWNERSHIP

These are just some of the ideas that are germinating in the community… Whether it is one of these or another community-sourced idea, we hope someone or some entity serving the public domain will pursue this first right of refusal to purchase portions of railroad square.

REFERENCE SOURCES:

The CRA and Blueprint combined has given about $2.5 Million for the SOMO Walls, a privately-owned real estate development. This is an opportunity for the public domain to not just give away grants, but to actually own aN arts / cultural / RETAIL property for a similar amount of funding.

MEDIA COVERAGE ON THIS MATTER

TESTIMONIALS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS

“Railroad Square is listed in numerous articles across the tourist world as a “thing to do” in Tallahassee. Yet the Kaye’s are going it alone. They should be getting yearly allotments from the Tourist Development Council and the Downtown Improvement Authority. Yes, this is a local draw and an important asset and it is not fair for the property owners to carry the entire burden of this offering.”
— Nancy Miller (Former Tallahassee City Commissioner)
““I believe that without local government support, the art district will not survive, certainly not with its current footprint. What we need as a community to do is think about options that we can pitch in to save the art district. If we lose (that property), it’s never coming back. And right now, it is the cultural centerpiece, arguably, of Tallahassee.””
— Rick Minor (Leon County Commissioner)
“Railroad Square Art Park is a unique business community, arts and cultural icon that most definitely needs to be preserved and restored as close to its pre-May 10 storm as possible. While I’m open to whatever form the stakeholders ended up with, I am of the opinion that a private-public partnership that continues to offer as close to the current uses as possible is what is in the best interest of our community. As a former “starving artist” who lived and worked (Akin & Assoc. Arch.) from 1993 to 1995 at 641 McDonnell Dr. (now 615 Railroad Sq. Unit 4) within the Railroad Square Art Park, and, as a Tallahassee resident who frequently attends First Fridays, Mickee Faust Theatre, and multiple businesses in the complex, I have a vested interest in, and an appreciation for, the enduring legacy of this Tallahassee jewel.”
— Akin Akinyemi PhD, RA, CFA, CMS (Leon County Property Appraiser)
“Railroad Square represented the best of creative entrepreneurship in Tallahassee. The ability to create a space for art and culture to thrive was unique and provided an opportunity for many local talented individuals to have a place to grow personally while offering the community a precious resource. I hope it can be recaptured. ”
— Allan Katz (former City Commissioner of Tallahassee and American Ambassador to Portugal)
“Railroad Square is a treasure in our community. This place is unique and with a culture we all love. this what attracts people to relocate and settle in Tallahassee. We cannot afford to lose Railroad Square. It keeps us from becoming anywhere USA.”
— Gregg Patterson (Executive Director, Choose Tallahassee)
“I’ve always wanted to live in Railroad Square. Artists, creatives, and the arts drive the heart, soul, economy, and vitality of a community.”
— Kathleen Spehar (Executive Director, Council on Culture & Arts or "COCA")
“Railroad Square is one of the most beautiful, shining jewels in the crown of what makes Tallahassee a great place to live, learn, work, and visit. There is nothing else in this region that approaches the unique charm and appeal of our family-friendly Railroad Square. Thanks to the diligent and dedicated work of the sibling team of Adam and Lily Kaye during the past two decades, our wonderful arts district has evolved to offer something for everyone with its diverse array of awesome artists, eclectic eateries, special stores, wide-open spaces, and clean fun for all. Our caring community has to find a way to involve all sectors —- public, private, and non-profit — to save Railroad Square, which is comparable to saving the heart of art in Tallahassee.”
— Ron Sachs (Founder/Chairman Emeritus, Sachs Media)

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE PAST ATTEMPTS OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND DIVERSIFICATION OF ART DISTRICT OWNERSHIP

REFERENCE SOURCES:

REFERNCE SOURCES:

REFERNCE SOURCES:

  • Antonio Montoya, Executive Director of DOMI STATION (past)

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REFERENCE SOURCES:

  • Wayne Tetter, Assistant City Manager (oversees DesignWorks)

2012 - ARTS EXCHANGE

PUBLICLY-OWNED ART SPACES IN THIS AREA IS NOT AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT. THIS IS WHAT COCA & THE CITY WANTED.

ANYONE REMEMBER THE “ARTS EXCHANGE” PROJECT?

BACK IN 2009, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT COCA (COUNCIL ON CULTURE & ARTS) WAS GOING TO BUILD “THE ARTS EXCHANGE” ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET NORTH OF RAILROAD SQUARE (WHERE NOW SITS THE HAMPTON INN AND GREENWISE PUBLIX).

IT WAS ENVISIONED AS AN ART-CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT THAT CONSISTED OF A BLACKBOX PERFORMANCE/REHEARSAL SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME RETAIL, AND SOME PARKING… SOUND FAMILIAR?

“The Gaines Street Corridor, too, will see vast changes. COCA’s Arts Exchange project, made possible in part by a $375,000 grant from the Knight Foundation, will provide permanent housing for the Tallahassee Ballet and the Tallahassee Boys Choir, as well as artist’s lofts, a creative work center, retail space and multiple rehearsal spaces. The Arts Exchange, slated for construction in 2010, will also house new COCA offices and provide a village-like artists’ atmosphere with pedestrian spaces and biking.
”
— Caroline Brewster, Tallahassee Magazine (2012)

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF RAILROAD SQUARE

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: lily@railroadsquare.com

FOR ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: info@artdistrict.com

FOR RENTAL INFORMATION:

Art District Holdings LLC, 1872 Mill Street Unit B-11, Tallahassee, FL, 32310(850) 366-6232manager@artdistrict.com

LOCATION & CONTACT INFO

The Art District Real Estate office is located at 661-2 Railroad Square, Tallahassee, FL 32310. It is the side entrance of the little greenhouse, on the side closest to the red caboose.

It is open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Any questions? We’ve probably heard it before. Find the answers on our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page.

Still can’t find the answer?

Inquiries can be directed to (850) 224-1308

For hours and addresses of specific businesses and studios throughout The Art District, please click the DIRECTORY tab.

We’re LOCATED IN Railroad Square, SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF TALLAHASSEE, right on the doorsteps of FSU, FAMU, & DOWNTOWN!

 

©2023 Art District Real Estate LLC

Adam Kaye, Licensed Real Estate Broker

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