Julia Bryant

Oct. 21 2015
JOUR320
Word Count: 402
Residents of College Park, Maryland may be able to gear up for cultural development on
U.S. Route 1 as discussion of Art House continued Tuesday.
At their Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. work session at the College Park City Hall, the College Park
City Council discussed different topics ranging from new voting machines to new marketing
methods for the city. They also discussed at length Art House, the proposed name of a
development that is planning to replace space that had been occupied by The Barking Dog, a bar
that closed in 2013.
Jack Robson, the Chief of the College Park Board of Election Supervisors, reviewed new
voting machines that will be used in the Nov. 3 election. Residents will still use paper ballots, but
the machines will tally the votes.
Councilmembers also discussed the newly implemented marketing strategies and the
proposed idea of having a space within the University of Marylands visitor center to attract
more positive attention to College Park.
While some councilmembers provided nonsupport for the plan, District three
Councilmember Stephanie Stullich enthusiastically said, Wed be crazy not to do it!
The development of the art house, proposed as a public-private partnership with the
university and the Philadelphia music venue MilkBoy, would provide a space for performances,
food and drink and what many councilmembers and residents of College Park also believe:
culture.
Art House is important to the revitalization of downtown [College Park], Terry
Schum, Director of Planning for the city of College Park said.

The subject of the art house arose when council members discussed the Program Year 42
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. According to Schum, the city of
College Park has received no funding in recent years through the CDBG because it is highly
competitive within the county.
This year, Schum is proposing that two projects are submitted through the application
process to receive the grant. In addition, a new tactic of submitting the application under
Economic Development may be implemented.
Art House is really time sensitive and in my view we should make this our first
priority, Stullich said.
Councilmembers also discussed the effect the development could have on the area.
I think this is really a different thing that we dont have here now that really serves to
attract a totally different demographic, District two Councilmember P. J. Brennan said. [Art
House] could serve to be a catalyst for other development in the area.