50 artists are currently seeking legitmate live work space in the inner SE where we have all been live working for years. We are looking to buy a building and run it as a live work co-op, where each tenant owns his/her space - condo style, but the whole thing is managed by the co-op committee. Our real estate agent is confident that as a Co-op we'll be able to solicit a 4-5 million dollar loan for this project, where we're hoping for about 400 sq ft per tenant. We're looking at the Washington High School and making a proposal there, though the bigger wigs are already licking their chops on that one. Yes bathrooms, sinks, 220 V outlets for stoves... that's about it... besides the city being behind it once it actually kicks off (and maybe helping with the ex'd zoning should the building we find be adjacent to such zoning but itself zoned something else). Grants in trade for services, art patrons or low interest venture capitalists, this are the sorts of help we'll be looking for to fill in the gaps the loan will inevitably leave.
We're looking to secure permanent residency for a group of Portland artists, in such a way that the building and co-op will last for the city and the next generation of artists, long after us.
And as far as what would go down activity wise in the building... open studios, a venue, artist run gallery, resale store etc... lets find out what can actually happen when it is legit - - it can only be a more mature version of what is already happening here and elsewhere in the eastside.
THE BALL ROLLING
50 artists are currently seeking legitmate live work space in the inner SE where we have all been live working for years. We are looking to buy a building and run it as a live work co-op, where each tenant owns his/her space - condo style, but the whole thing is managed by the co-op committee. Our real estate agent is confident that as a Co-op we'll be able to solicit a 4-5 million dollar loan for this project, where we're hoping for about 400 sq ft per tenant. We're looking at the Washington High School and making a proposal there, though the bigger wigs are already licking their chops on that one. Yes bathrooms, sinks, 220 V outlets for stoves... that's about it... besides the city being behind it once it actually kicks off (and maybe helping with the ex'd zoning should the building we find be adjacent to such zoning but itself zoned something else). Grants in trade for services, art patrons or low interest venture capitalists, this are the sorts of help we'll be looking for to fill in the gaps the loan will inevitably leave.
We're looking to secure permanent residency for a group of Portland artists, in such a way that the building and co-op will last for the city and the next generation of artists, long after us.
And as far as what would go down activity wise in the building... open studios, a venue, artist run gallery, resale store etc... lets find out what can actually happen when it is legit - - it can only be a more mature version of what is already happening here and elsewhere in the eastside.