March 24-30, 2005

cityspace

Open the Garage

by Cory Frolik

Ola Solanke has big plans for his Francisville neighborhood. They center around something he calls the Arts Garage, which would be a cultural center complete with a West African restaurant and a theater for performance art.

Hoping to bring his vision to fruition, Solanke has spent three years maintaining a vacant lot at 15th and Parrish streets. Today, the site, which sits on a neglected block, is adorned with a lonely "Arts Garage" neon sign.

Should everything fall into place, Solanke can imagine a vibrant facility hosting between 150 and 250 people a night. With those projections, however, the Zoning Board of Adjustment won't approve it for commercial use unless there's more parking. To accomplish that, Solanke needs the city to sell him an adjacent property.

Originally, City Councilman Darrell Clarke offered vague, noncommittal support for Solanke, since the city's Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) works with the Redevelopment Authority, which wanted to build housing on the same site. Solanke said Clarke was "the last and only hope for the Arts Garage."

Seeking support, Solanke finally caught a break March 8 when the Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation (FNDC) heard him out. Backed by local artists who talked about how the arts strengthen communities, Solanke provided a slide show that described the initiative. He says it could revitalize Ridge Avenue, a once-vibrant thoroughfare that boasted of Philadelphia's first farmer's market and the jazz hot spot the Blue Note.

When locals heard Solanke's claim that the Arts Garage would bring 26 jobs and $600,000 to the neighborhood, they lined up behind him. FNDC President Penelope Giles, who would rather work with instead of compete against the OHCD, said, "We're not trying to push anyone. Our group isn't anti-housing [development], or anti-anybody. We're pro community development."

With a community rallied behind him, things went smoothly for Solanke at a recent zoning board hearing. Even better: Clarke's office relayed the councilman's intentions to open up negotiations between the Redevelopment Authority and Solanke. Barring further complications, Solanke hopes to open the theater in September, with the restaurant to follow in February.