A few tidbits from the City Council meeting Monday that didn’t get headlines, plus some national recognition for ImaginOn:
Council news: The council approved naming the new 1,200-seat theater being built as part of the Wachovia-cultural arts campus on South Tryon Street the Knight Theater.
No, you conspiracy buffs, it isn’t about the Charlotte Knights minor-league baseball team, which wants an uptown stadium. The theater will carry the name of John S. and James L. Knight, “for their involvement in and commitment to the Charlotte community,” and for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which gave a $5 million donation to the arts endowment campaign.
Yes, there’s a connection to the newspaper, but the newspaper is entirely separate from the foundation. The Knight family owned multiple newspapers, including The Charlotte Observer and the former Charlotte News. In 1974 Knight Newspapers merged with the Ridder newspaper company and became Knight Ridder, which last year sold itself to McClatchy, which now owns the Observer.
The Knight family set up a foundation, which makes major national journalism grants as well as grants in 26 communities that had Knight Ridder newspapers at one time, including Charlotte.
The council also OK’d naming the new Afro-American Cultural Center facility for former Mayor Harvey Gantt, who’s been active in politics, civic affairs and architecture since his mayoral terms in the 1980s. He’s most deserving of the honor, IMHO.
ImaginOn: The Project for Public Spaces, a well-known nonprofit group that helps teach planners and developers and others how to make the most of parks, plazas, markets and other public gathering spots showcases ImaginOn in its April newsletter. Take a look.