When Kelley Gibson would ask for directions around York in the late 90’s, long-time residents would tell her to go past the old Jack’s, turn where Mailman’s used to be, go right at the old Bon Ton. They would give directions based on what used to be there. Now, as director of communications and engagement at the Cultural Alliance of York, Gibson can give directions based on what is now there. She can say “walk past that new boutique” or “turn left at the brewery that just opened.”
York is no longer a main street town where people stop to buy a winter coat from Jack’s. The diverse city is flourishing into a destination where people eat brunch, browse local boutiques, take pottery classes and socialize at happy hour. Dominic DelliCarpini, dean of the Center for Community Engagement at York College, attributes the revitalization to three things: new housing options, young entrepreneurs and a thriving arts district. He says that the city has been gradually growing for about 10 years, but that its new face only began forming about five years ago when young developers revamped business plans and cultural ideologies.
Among the groups working towards this revamp is the Cultural Alliance of York. Gibson explains the main function of the Cultural Alliance as bringing artists in and out of the downtown. It funds individuals and organizations in creative adventures that nurture York’s arts movement. Last year, William Chambers introduced his idea to build a spaceship filled with dreams to the Cultural Alliance. The organization helped Chambers set up a space on West Market Street where visitors helped him craft a miniature spaceship and hand-write their dreams on paper. Chambers listened to the dreams of over 300 people, then toured multiple states with his spaceship, speaking about the cathartic impact this process had on the community. He noted that younger visitors drew out their dreams right away, while older visitors hesitated. They were handed a blank piece of paper and asked to fill it, but they did not know how. For many years, artists have been asking how to both create and keep their work in York, but no one knew how. The Cultural Alliance is finally making progress. With more art spaces and projects, artists are able to keep their work in the same city it was created and explore more artistic venues and ideas.
Another actor in the artistic movement is Creative York, which is exposing how art has the ability to cut across language, economic and social barriers, according to Annelise Montone, executive director of Creative York. Montone says that Creative York collaborates with various companies that would typically be considered “non-creative” to celebrate the inherent creativity in York city. For example, Creative York partners with York Water Company for the Waterworks Art Project. The project kicked off in June with the Aquanaut exhibit, which runs until September 17th, and features a Plein Air Picnic on August 17th and Paint with Water Family Activity Nights. Montone says these types of collaborations “spotlight companies in a way only art can.” Creative York also prioritizes youth education, and in addition to their various art classes for kids, they have partnered with York City Schools to launch a scholarship program for students grades 1 through 8 called Creative York Scholarship Program. Donors sponsor a student by contributing enough dollars to cover that student’s tuition for one of Creative York’s core discipline sessions. An end-of-the-year exhibit showcases their creations and welcomes students, their families and donors.
Along with shops and galleries, several fashion boutiques have found homes on Philadelphia and Beaver Streets. One of the first is Arthur & Daughters, Hilary Arthur’s private label store with U.S. made collections and accessories. After living in New York City for 15 years, Arthur returned to her hometown of York to achieve that infamous work/family balance. She settled on Beaver Street near Kimman’s gift shop and Sweet Melissa’s Dream, an earth-conscious boutique that has been growing with the downtown since 1999. Gradually, other entrepreneurs began to feel confident in bringing their shops to the downtown, such as Indigo Bleu, Elizabeth & West, which recently moved to its second location next to York Central Market and Revolt Style Studio, which opened in June. The sustained market for these stores proves that women of York have been waiting for more forward fashion that is locally sourced, in stores where they can personally connect to shop owners, Arthur explains. It’s a bond that is strengthened by events celebrating the diversity of York fashion, such as the upcoming Boutique Week the first week of September. Arthur explains, this event creates “synergy on different levels” by bringing together fashion, art and a passionate York community.
DelliCarpini notes, these types of events are helping to power York’s revitalization, along with the myriad new apartments being built in the downtown. Dylan Bauer, vice president of Royal Square Development and Construction, states that “the glass ceiling was broken” when Codo began developing in 2006, adding many new apartments to North George Street. When RSDC took over Susquehanna Renovation in 2010, it had a twofold mission: to revitalize York City and to establish sustainable construction. Since then, RSDC has added 18 new retail shops to the Royal Square neighborhood and plans to add 35 market-rate apartments by early 2017. Their work has transformed Royal Square from a harbor for drug trafficking and prostitution to a vibrant neighborhood with essentially no crime. And, Bauer affirms, the demand continues to rise. Other developers are adding not only restaurants and boutiques, but also more apartments throughout York City, some of which have been leased out before sheet rock is even hung, Bauer says.
Tenants vary in age and socio-economic background but share one commonality: the desire to reside in an urban setting. They want to stroll to market on Saturday, walk to dinner on a Wednesday, and be surrounded by the city buzz, Bauer describes. DelliCarpini hopes that new living options and the overall regeneration motivate York College students to recognize the city as their home. He explains that within the last three to four years students have become immersed in downtown York through student senate efforts and courses offered at the college. For example, student senate provides shuttle service to First Friday celebrations, and former mayor John Brenner taught a course that utilized project-based learning to show students how to generate and pursue ideas on urban revitalization. After York College acquired Marketview Arts, fine art and graphic design students have been granted workshop and gallery space to create and exhibit their work.
Through these actions, DelliCarpini says a mutually beneficial partnership has been established between the college and the city. Students have gained an appreciation for their community, especially the nonprofit sector, and faculty have taken advantage of teaching opportunities outside the classroom. The city now respects the human and material resources offered by the college and considers students to be talented community members.
As the sidewalks and storefronts in downtown York transform, so does the culture. All cultural shifts occur incrementally, and it is important for York to maintain its identity while growing economically and socially, Gibson explains. When she came to York in 1992, she fell in love with that perfect melding of historical and new, the charm of a little city with a big heart. Even though York is growing into the skin it was destined for, our veins still run to the old Jack’s on West Market Street.
