CHANNEL DISTRICT - Since the Channel District Council dissolved at the end of last year, residents, developers and business owners have lacked access to what's going on in their neighborhood.

So two gatherings this week at The Florida Aquarium served as quasi-town hall meetings, providing updates on projects.

The meetings, held Monday and Tuesday, were hosted by the Community Redevelopment Agency, which hired LandAir Project Resources to study how to incorporate arts into the budding community.

The New York City company surveyed about 2,300 residents, artists, arts organizations and businesses to determine the role of the arts as the Channel District transitions from a warehouse area to a residential neighborhood. About half responded.

From the survey, which was funded by $40,000 in local property taxes, LandAir President Leith ter Meulen said there were positive vibes despite the "lull in the real estate market." She said residents are frustrated the Channel District hasn't filled up with new residents as quickly as hoped, but there's a good sense about living there.

Blake Hayden, an insurance agent who moved into The Place in June, said he mostly enjoys the convenience of the location. But if he has out-of-town guests who seek the unique, he and his wife take them to Ybor City, although he envisions a day when the Channel District will fill that need.

Hayden, named recently to the redevelopment agency's board, said its members will hold monthly meetings beginning this month. He said it's regrettable the district council ended, but he views the redevelopment agency as a fresh start after many community activists ran out of steam dealing with the neighborhood's urban infancy.

Mark Huey, who heads economic development for the city, said one of the projects going ahead is a plan to use a portion of the 7-acre Florida Aquarium parking lot for a community park. The aquarium leases the 500-space lot from the city.

After the survey results are finalized, the redevelopment agency will hire a group to work on marketing and promotion.

Ter Meulen, who worked on the renovation of Times Square, termed the potential of the Channel District as "the Ybor City for grown-ups."

She predicts corporate and private sponsors who help the area's galleries and theaters will be listed on signs throughout the district. She also sees a branding campaign to distinguish the "authentic" stores and restaurants that will form the neighborhood's character.

Andrea Graham, board president for the Stageworks theater company, said the going is tough for small nonprofit groups trying to raise money for the arts. Stageworks will move into donated space at the Grand Central at Kennedy condominium complex next year.

"People say, 'Isn't there already a theater?' They have no clue," Graham said of the confusion over the professional theater company and the movie theater at Channelside.

Genie White, former president of the district council, and her husband, Bill, ran an artists' co-op for 15 years but had to close Artists Unlimited because of taxes and insurance costs.

They changed the building, 223 N. 12th St., from commercial to residential because the $250 monthly rent they charged each artist wasn't enough to cover expenses.

"How do we take this to the next level?" Genie White asked. "That's what we need to solve."

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.