Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted by Old Lyme residents Christina J. and Thomas D. Gotowka.
We are writing to express our strong support for the arts overlay district on Lyme Street that has been proposed by the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts; and which would amend Old Lyme’s zoning regulations and create “a more flexible arts and social district or districts”. Note that their site at 84 Lyme Street is zoned residential”, although the Academy, with its extensive studios and classrooms, has operated on that site as an educational institution for decades; and has really become an anchor for Lyme Street and may often be a visitor’s first impression of our town.
Clearly, Old Lyme recognizes and celebrates its long-standing community relationship with and support for the arts; which began in 1899, when Miss Florence Griswold opened her family home to artists. This “Old Lyme Art Colony” became influential in the development of American Impressionism; and produced many important works illustrating their Old Lyme environs; — e.g. “The Church at Old Lyme”, by Childe Hassam, an early resident of the Colony.
The Hartford Courant reported in 1907 that: “the most talked about art colony in America today is at Old Lyme, Connecticut”.
The Lyme Art Association, which was incorporated in 1914, is an early “offspring” of the Colony and began its exhibitions of impressionist paintings in 1902, held at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library every summer until 1921; when the original Lyme Art Association gallery opened at 90 Lyme Street.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts was founded in 1976 by Elisabeth Gordon Chandler “for the teaching of sculpture, figure drawing, Illustration and painting dedicated to the fine arts”. In 2021, after severing a relationship with the University of New Haven, the Academy made the strategic decision to restructure in accordance with their founding principles; as an academy, not a college. “We want to re-activate our campus as a center of fine arts education and a community hub”.
The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center at 100 Lyme Street, appropriately named for the renowned artist, naturalist, author, environmentalist, and of course, Old Lyme resident; is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the Connecticut River Estuary ecosystem and watershed, through science-based research, education and advocacy. The Center is located along the Lieutenant River at the former Bee and Thistle property.
Michael Duffy, Chairman of the Academy’s Board of Trustees, has stated that they seek “a predictable set of guidelines so they can plan, knowing that their activities are “in conformance with the regulations”.
The Town’s Planning Commission determined in October, by unanimous vote, that the proposed overlay district is consistent with the Town’s “Plan of Conservation and Development”, which was adopted in February, 2021. They referred the proposal to the Zoning Commission, and it was on that Commission’s November 14 agenda; continuing through December and January.
The proposal raised concerns with the Town’s Historic District Commission.
The primary driver of this proposal has been the Lyme Academy; but previously, Rebekah Beaulieu, then-executive director of the Florence Griswold Museum, stated, “the Museum and the Lyme Art Association remain committed allies to our peers at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in their petition. We aim to support current and future mission-oriented non-profit organizations in our shared goal to build sustainable operating models while serving the Old Lyme community.”
Claudia Weicker, chair of the board of directors of the Estuary Center, said, “I view the cultural overlay district as something which would be beneficial to the town” and that would establish parameters and the ground rules under which we all could operate,”
We feel that approval would place the Zoning Commission in closer step with Town administration, who has regularly provided some financial support to these four organizations; both as budgeted “211 Grants” or additional awards this past year from the American Rescue Plan. The latter includes a grant to the Academy for “the improvement of walkways, stairs, ramps, and doors to provide unfettered access to individuals with mobility issues; and also, to the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center to support “the creation of an accessible science discovery and environmental learning center for children”.
Approval would also provide the Academy with the tools that would assist them in their programmatic planning and enable thoughtful and sustainable growth in the arts district that maintains the “look and feel” of our historic district.
Old Lyme’s Zoning Commission must bring its courage and skill to bear on to this proposal and create a cultural/arts district that should probably extend from the Academy grounds through the Estuary Center.
We acknowledge the words of our Greater Library Lane neighbor, Bill Folland, who recently wrote with some passion that “Residents of Old Lyme must reject the hysteria surrounding necessary survival plans for the art academy as well as objections put forth by our Historic Commission.”
In closing, we reminisce of the 1960s, and with some gratitude for Old Lyme’s history and arts culture, say “Provide a little Power to the Palette”.