Friday, January 07, 2000
Duveneck House renewal OK
City provides final funding
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — The purchase and renovation of artist Frank Duveneck's Greenup Street home can proceed soon, thanks to more money from the city of Covington.
Northern Kentucky arts groups and civic leaders say they hope to make the small gray house at 1226 Greenup St. part of a new arts district in Covington's east side neighborhood.
Last week, Covington City Commission agreed to spend another $15,000 — bringing the city's total contribution to $50,000 — to help buy and renovate the house and convert the adjacent Klingenberg's Hardware and Paint Store into a complementary use, such as a gallery, shop or restaurant.
Klingenberg's eventually plans to move to the vacant Hill's Seed Co. store on Pike Street.
Mike Hammons, president of Forward Quest, said the arts district — which also would include the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and the Carnegie Center for Visual and Performing Arts — would stimulate economic development in one of the city's poorer neighborhoods.
“We want people to visit one attraction, then go to another, kind of like MainStrasse,” Mr. Hammons said.
Covington's commitment, as well as pledges from several foundations, an anonymous donor and the late artist's granddaughter, brings the total raised for the project to $136,000, Mr. Hammons said.
Forward Quest, a nonprofit Northern Kentucky group that's trying to plan for growth through 2020, tentatively plans to restore the first floor of the Duveneck House, highlighting Mr. Duveneck's life and work, and provide gallery space or a studio on the second floor.
Mr. Duvaneck was the area's leading artist in the late 1800s and early 1900s and was a founder of the Munich school.
“Even though he worked in Cincinnati, Duveneck is Covington's son,” said Arlene Gibeau, director of the Covington Cathedral Art Gallery. ""Any support I can give to this project, I will. This will complement existing tourist attractions.”
Each year, more than 70,000 people tour the Cathedral to view its art and architecture, Ms. Gibeau said.
The Carnegie also sees about 32,000 visitors a year, Mr. Hammons said. He added that there also are a number of historic churches in the neighborhood.
“The next step will be to form a task force to provide a long-term vision for the area,” Mr. Hammons said. “It'll address traffic, housing, commercial development and public plaza space.”
Mr. Hammons said a meeting will be called soon to discuss the project with east side residents.
“We definitely want the residents to help with this plan, and come up with uses for the Duveneck House,” Mr. Hammons said.
The Northern Kentucky Symphony was approached by Forward Quest about building a performing arts center on Covington's east side, but director James Cassidy said that was discounted, largely because of lack of parking and crime concerns.
“You don't build a $40 million hall and stick it down there where people won't come from Kenwood and Fort Thomas, and where you don't have adequate parking,” Mr. Cassidy said. “But do I think it could be a thriving area for the visual arts? Yes, if it's done the right way. I'm most supportive of a district for the visual arts.”
Supporters of the Duveneck restoration and the creation of an arts district include the Carnegie, the Cathedral Foundation, the Kenton County Public Library System, the Northern Kentucky African-American Heritage League and the Behringer-
Crawford Museum, representatives of Forward Quest have said.
“What I do see is that this is going to enhance the arts in Covington and Northern Kentucky in pulling (arts attractions) together, and bringing attention to them,” Ms. Gibeau said.
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