Steven Garrity on pandemic recovery
From SPARK THE ARTS Podcast: Inaugural Episode with Jennifer Evins and Steve Garrity! · · Global Peace 360°
“After the pandemic, downtowns across America and the world were struggling to get people to come back into the work environment and offices. The city of Orlando had started conversations with United Arts about how to improve the vibrancy of downtown and get more people to come into the city at lunchtime and evenings to see it as a destination.”
On , Steven Garrity, Senior Vice President & Orlando Market Leader at HIGHWOODS PROPERTIES INC, spoke about pandemic recovery during SPARK THE ARTS Podcast: Inaugural Episode with Jennifer Evins and Steve Garrity! on Global Peace 360°.
About Steven Garrity
In October 2024, Garrity appeared on the inaugural episode of the SPARK THE ARTS Podcast, where he discussed Highwoods Properties' role in supporting the arts in downtown Orlando. He stated that the company, which owns office buildings in the area, has made available a ground-floor space at no cost to artists and United Arts of Central Florida through a program called Spark the Arts Studios. Garrity described the space as previously "dark" and unleased, and said the company's goal was to "activate" it and "add value to our customers' life experience through art." He noted that if the space is leased, artists would have 60 days to vacate, but added that the company is a "long-term holder of real estate" and is "delighted" to host the program. Garrity also addressed broader downtown revitalization efforts following the pandemic, saying that the city of Orlando had begun conversations with United Arts about improving downtown vibrancy. He said Highwoods is "working with the city to place musicians in the city every day" and to have "storefront visual artists" visible to the public, framing the initiative as a matter of "economic development along with quality of life." He added that artists in the residency program are responsible for teaching "lunch and learns" to building tenants, which he said helps artists build a following and inspires office workers who may have a "creative fire inside."