Yesterday the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County unveiled its vision for an $80 million downtown theater district. Note the comment from arts council CEO Milton Rhodes:

The council’s report — titled “SmART Initiative Downtown Winston-Salem Theatre District Visionary Conceptual Plan” — proposes forming a district by clustering a number of arts and cultural venues along a Spruce Street “spine” and around a park that would serve as a city gathering place.

..The district, which the council estimates would take 10 years to complete, would have a new 500-700 seat theater that would replace the aging Arts Council Theatre on Coliseum Drive; a National Black Theatre Hall of Fame; renovations to Stevens Center and expansion of the lobby and auxiliary areas; a new Central Library on the site of the current Winston Square Park; and a new downtown park across the street between Spruce and Poplar.

..Rhodes said he thinks a theater district is important to the continued growth of downtown.

“I think when Mellow Mushroom and the Dell factory came to Winston-Salem, the attitude of citizens about the importance of downtown were rekindled and restarted,” he said. “I think that’s why these 85 people that are on this committee have been working together for the last six months to try to get another plan out and get it up, so people can look at it and discuss it and see how this fits into the community’s agenda.”

OK not sure Dell is the best example to hold up. Note one commenter expresses concern that Gboro’s proposed downtown performing arts center is evidence that W-S is again falling its neighbor to the east. Note also a fair amount of skepticism from taxpayers.