by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
For Antonio Allegretti, marketing vice president of Venture Resources and former marketing director at Theatre Jacksonville, downtown’s vibe is like a shimmering jewel half-buried in the sand. Panning for treasure has its risks, though, and its disappointments.
From Springfield to San Marco, Allegretti and his associates have been toiling for three-plus years to enhance the urban core’s artistic presence and economic viability. Most of the projects have taken root, albeit in embryonic states, but one particular idea fell through of late.
Allegretti wanted to sublease the space at 29 E. Adams St., where the nightclub Heaven planned to open, but the landlord had other ideas for the location. Allegretti wanted to use the space as a gallery, artist studio and office for Springfield Arts & Living magazine, which he edits. He also wanted to stage the second Art and Bills show at the location.
“This was going to be home to a lot of downtown events,” he said. “We have such good ideas for downtown with the Downtown Festival coming. For the art show we have 10 artists, all local, all big pieces, but unless we can find someplace downtown that fits, we will have to move.”
A release party for an album by the band Spooney was to be the inaugural event at 29 E. Adams St. Another release party for a compilation album entitled “Maximum Chill-out,” featuring nationally-known musician Moby and local disc jockey DJ Catharsis of the band PC Synergy was also supposed to take place there. The Velvet Room in San Marco will likely host the CD release parties.
Allegretti’s hope was to make the Adams Street property into a miniature visitor’s bureau. He is talking with representatives of Downtown Vision, Inc. to explore the possibility of still making the idea happen, perhaps at the Elks Building or the Barnett Bank building at West Adams and Laura streets.
Along with disseminating information about what’s going on downtown, he dreamed of planning events downtown, too.
“We could have easily done that with Brooklyn [Arts & Design Center] to have this pub/art crawl,” he said. “It’s a way to showcase art and gain foot traffic. I think that can still happen.”
Allegretti will be holding a meeting today to discuss his plans.
“This to me really felt like the urban core,” said Allegretti. “I love this block. I look at the project of having an urban core visitor’s bureau outlet for information and events as something that’s got to happen. I know we’ll find a place. The idea is strong enough to live somewhere else. We have support from the public and private stakeholders downtown.”