Redevelopment board recommends city fund Medicine Bar mural, grant capped at $10,000

The Daytona Beach Redevelopment Board voted unanimously on a recommendation that the City Commission approve a public-art grant for a mural on the Medicine Bar building at 115 Myrtle Lane. The board’s action was to forward the grant request to the commission; staff said the grant amount will not exceed $10,000.

Board members and staff discussed why the board’s recommendation is limited to funding and noted that technical approvals for wall graphics run through the city’s land development code. A city attorney reviewed the city’s public-art criteria, saying the Code of Ordinances requires artworks to have distinctive artistic merit and not contain more than de minimis commercial content, be durable against theft and weather, not create a public-safety hazard, and be visible from public right-of-way. The attorney told the board that, if the commission accepts the piece into the city’s public-art collection, the city would require an easement or covenant to protect public viewing and an assignment of intellectual-property rights from the artist, and that those terms would be worked out in an agreement for commission approval.

Christie Hall, owner of the Medicine Bar, told the board the business is a “holistic bar” that will serve wellness drinks and “a little bit of beer and wine,” and that the mural is intended to bring art and community to a plain, gray building in the middle of a parking lot. Hall said she is on a rent-to-own arrangement and hopes to own the building; she said the owner will repaint the façade and that she eventually hopes to “wrap the whole thing in art.”

Angel Armstrong, identified in the meeting as the project manager and the artist, and staff said the mural application and required land-development documents were filed with city staff even though those documents were not included in the board packet. The board chair and members urged staff to include the LDC application in future packets so the board has the documentation on file.

Board members asked about timeline and durability. Hall said the artist expects to complete the mural in about “6 to 8 weeks,” weather permitting, and that she intends to use high-quality outdoor paint and multiple layers to withstand the strong west-facing sun. She also said the design includes small mirrors in the artwork to catch light.

The board made a motion to recommend that the commission approve the grant and the motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with all members saying “aye.” Staff said the commission packet will include the application materials and that any contract or acceptance into the city’s public-art collection will be handled at the commission level.

The board’s recommendation is an advisory action only; the final decision on funding and contracts rests with the City Commission. If the commission approves funding, staff said they will return with the agreement that includes language on public-view easements and assignment of intellectual-property rights.