Of interest is Question #5:
5. Should the city get involved to make sure Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts stays in Gatlinburg, and if so, what should be done?
McCOWN: I believe the city should take a strong stand to make sure that Arrowmont stays in Gatlinburg. Arrowmont is part of our culture and our heritage and we should encourage Pi Beta Phi (the national organization) to extend the leases to both Arrowmont and Pi Beta Phi elementary school. We should support changing the zoning of the Arrowmont property, or at least a portion of it, to make it an educational zone.
MONTGOMERY: As referenced in Question 2, I definitely feel Gatlinburg should do everything possible to retain Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts. If it is not monetarily feasible to purchase the existing property then we should make every effort to locate suitable property within the city limits of Gatlinburg.
OWNBY: Public involvement in private enterprise should be a cautious process. The dozens of our city have the right to be involved in any such process, and if the citizenry so desires the City Government and administration should pursue any actions which are legal and appropriate to keep “Arrowmont” in downtown Gatlinburg. The school and its history are a major component of the Gatlinburg Story. The grass roots efforts to preserve the school are a perfect example of how a community can work together to attempt to keep Arrowmont.
SMITH: Arrowmont is a part of our heritage and history and it should stay in the same location. The city has already started the process to create an Educational Zone in that area.
Great answers. Gatlinburg should keep Arrowmont and there are those within Pi Beta Phi who are willing to work to assure it remains in its beautiful and historic setting. I hope you can help us find a way.
I am so very happy to see that there is something kicking around to try to keep Arrowmont in Gatlinburg. For everything I had read off the net was dated 2008 or was negative news of loosing Arrowmont. I being a transplant can see the value of Arrowmont to Gatlinburg. I have seen first hand the school still doing what it was created to do in the biginning of time. Shame on Pi Beta Phi for doing this. Your action is not Very lady like. PBP should extend the lease another 100 years for a dollar. If you do not want to subsidize additional funding give them notice and they can aquire funding through other avenues. Currently I have two great ideas for fund raising I have shared with Arrowmont, but feel it fell upon deaf ear, because Arrowmont does not feel they will be in Gatlinburg. That last statement is my opinion from the lack of push to raise money now for the future to stay. Gatlinburg you are going to loose your heritage and crown jewel. I truely hope someone on the school board has deep local ties and burning desire to keep Arrowmont where it belongs in Gatlinburg.