What works in Work/Live?

Well I'm not an artist so I didn't take the survey, but just looking at it i have a few thoughts.

1. All the optional amenities are nice, but the more desirable it is, the harder it will be to make it affordable.
2. I'm always nervous about subsidies. I hope that's not what we're talking here.
3. I'm not an artist, but I would be interested in owning a live/work space, where I could have an office, maybe in a rowhouse situation.

I've noticed that the Alberta street area has made a positive change in direction due to the creative community and it's supporters. It seems that this area could be further developed to model communities like the Brewery in L.A., possibly artists appartments or bungalos with a shared workshop or recording facility.
there is so much talent and creative spirit in Portland that it seems it would benefit the community and the economy to organize it.

Live/Work is a slippery slope. I previously lived in NYC and SF before moving to Portland. I am a native born Oregonian. And I am a fine artist. Live/Work zoning in NYC forced most artists out of their SOHO, Chelsea, and East Village spaces and will soon do the same in Brooklyn and Harlem. In San Francisco Live/Work zoning litteraly changed the face of the SOMA and 3rd street corridor and I have yet to know an artist who lives in a Live/Work unless they were wealthy and an artist second. It seems to me as though the Live/Work is used as a loophole by developers and the wealthy to return to the urban corridor with the results being gentrefication and a removal of the diverse community and the artists who were living there in the first place. If any city could pull off a Live/Work zoning that benifited artists, the community, as well as commerece. I have faith that it could be Portland. However I do become nervous when I hear the phrase Live/Work thrown around without a clear vision or clarification.

I'm a painter who moved to Portland from the Boston area a year ago. I've been surprised to find so few studios in this town. Most are small and expensive and so far I've been making use of my basement. My paintings are large, and I work on the floor, so square feet are important to me. I don't care as much about the condition of the place. Like most artists, I'm good with my hands and able to fix up places. A dishwasher would be my last priority. Space, light and affordibility are first.

I am a writer who was sent this by RACC but when I went to the survey I had the definite impression that it was geared to visual artists. Many writers also need space, but our requirements are somewhat different. I'd like to see some attention paid to integrating writers' rooms with internet availability into any planning.

As a choreographer, live/work is challenging. I would need a large area to really be able to work. I love the idea though. Shared work/rehearsal space would be possible...with living spaces near/attached/in the building.

Live/Work Space:

It would seem to me that the most important areas to tap into range in value liberally but among them include:

- Sizable spaces that are zoned for live/work/retail that can renew/reuse/rehab current City-owned properties perhaps.

- Live/Work inustrial condo/space for mid-career artists who want to settle down and own a part of their neighborhood, building a community (like Fort Point Channel or the Brickbottom - both in Boston). Maybe the city can acknowledge the vlue by cooperating in some way with saavy investors who would want to see something like this happen.

- Explore the balance between real artist incomes and equitable rental costs - as Portland has seemed for a long while to have artificially deflated salaries, while housing prices skyrocket - if there were some type of incentive programs through the City (possibly in combination with RACC, and maybe even the Portland Art Center), maybe we can start to see some headwway in the future.

- Tap into the resources of prime industries and businesses in the Willamette River Valley, locate places that are within the city limits, though have been vacant for too long. Find innovative ways to approach collaborative ownership of such spaces. With involvement from the City something can actually get going. Collaborative type spaces are important for people who are seeking like environments (foundries for metalwork, kiln/glass blowing spaces, darkroom or printing facilities, etc).

I wonder why we look for "live/work" spaces that match the classic NYC SOHO light manufacturing loft model in Portland.

What about a house with a 2-car garage? That's what already exists here.

BTW, I don't have a garage ;-)

Let me know how I can help make this happen.

as stated above, if you try too hard you might mess everything up. us artists are a crafty bunch, we are kind of like rats, and as long as there are some nooks and crannies for us to dwell in we'll probably be okay. the worst thing that could happen would be for areas like the central east side to suddenly become a condo-zone. the artists in portland that are making this an exciting place to live probably are making less the $20k a year. just don't let us get priced out by the young urban professionals who want to live the edgy artist lifestyle.

It's important (as a sculptor) that the work space be closed off from the live space (to avoid noxious/dirty material from being breathed in living space). Also, the space needs to be one where I'd could use power-tools (i.e, make noise)

My 2 cents: If the city makes a commitment to offering live/work spaces, it should ensure that those spaces go to artists who are working in a professional capacity. Hobbyists or aspiring artists would be the death of a genuine arts community. Putting everything on the line to make art is far different than wanting to live the fantasy lifestyle of an artist. Those who have taken the plunge to make their living off of art are the ones who need affordable housing; not the cultural tourists.

Artists have different needs. Musicians make lots of sound - we need practice time.

Does anyone remember, I think it was called The Fine Arts Building downtown? I recall going there for bass lessons - there were actors there - musicians of all different instruments. It was a joy to go in there and hear all the different sounds and styles. Artists were not to live there - studios only.

While not required for what I do, good windows and light are very important to my process - not sure if artists of other disciplines would want to work next to me. Good sound-proofing should be required for artists live/work spaces. A small recital space would be wonderful - but I don't want the "public" coming around when I'm rehearsing or practicing. That is private time.

I've always had a studio either in my house or had an out-building for a practice room (when I lived in the country - that way my family didn't have to listen to me if they didn't want to).

Are these work/live spaces for young people only? What about mid-career or older artists? Only questions.

Good light - good sound proofing. A courtyard gathering place.

I agree with Matt that the worst thing to happen is for areas like central eastside to gentrify endlessly 'til they turn into the Pearl. But "Artist live/work space" doesn't have to mean the faux-edgy professional condo lifestyle, does it? My "artist live/work space" is an old house on the east side.

But if I were still really young, loud, and single, I would want to live with other artists as I used to, with large spaces where we could have music and events without attracting attention or getting shut down by the cops. Not a fancy professional condo: a real work space. With a leaky roof. I'd left Oregon during that time, and lived in a city where zoning people and the Fire Department didn't come knocking, trying to dig out potential live-workers. They left us alone and it was great. I've heard nightmare stories about that from people living in industrial spaces in Portland about being hounded, intimidated, and even hit on by inspectors.

Then again, Portland is going to keep being condo-fied and seeing real estate prices inflated compared to what everyday people earn. People are moving here from well-heeled cities, and to them this place looks like a good deal. I don't think we can enact a law to keep them out, so within the changing climate why not help find places for ourselves and other artists?

Mid-career artists were mentioned, but it's also important that younger ones--who are not already established with critically-acclaimed creative businesses, artistic careers, and cool alternative living and working spaces--have somewhere to go. Some of them aren't "crafty" in the ways of the world. Many of the artists I've known in my life, including myself for a long time, have been noticeably un-crafty at dealing with rents, business matters, finances, landlords, spaces, and the like. I don't assume that the most worthy artists will be crafty enough to see their way through a maze of low wages and inflated rents, particularly artists who require large spaces and specialized equipment to create their work. Some wonderful artists will get through it inventively and resourcefully. Many others will drop through the cracks or hightail it out of Portland.

Maybe we're better off without them, Darwin-style. Or maybe the city could encourage community arts resources, including subsidized artist housing. Most artists are poor. Subsidized artist live/work housing could be similar to Section 8 housing, rather than a big yupfest. You don't need the dishwashers. All you need is a warehouse with a shared toilet, sink, fridge, and no officials trying to shut you down all the time. The artists can work out how to make the space work.

I've been scouring this town for affordable Live/Work! It would be great if it was the real deal, and not some condo-ized symbolic gesture. as in: the pearl is not truly the arts district because artists can't afford to live there. It is more like the expensive restaurant/ high priced antiques/ frivolous luxuries/ dog grooming district. Despite the presence of galleries the artists are missing! I think produce row /warehouse waterfront area is really the arts district, where generations of artists keep studios within blocks of each other.

Make it real live/work! Low rent, large space, and a portfolio review for acceptance! Reserved for the deserved, a special place for those with everything staked on their art, not an affluent vanity rental. Remember how the WPA gave artists monthly paychecks in the depression years? If mr. Adams wants to launch a govt. based cultural initiative let it be a real one, let it be radical. Not just creating appropriate symbols of an art district. Reach out and find artists. Start a caucus of those involved in the arts here and provide great, low rent live/work studios as a gesture of support facilitating people who's lives/work is truly the same thing. it could work just like a grant application. An awesome idea, but it sounds like it could too easily degenerate into buildings full of massage studios. If its art studios GET THE ARTISTS!

wow what an idea

a portfolio review

basing important needs such as shelter on merit

wow

I am for a blight reduction initiative program, in which landowners who neglect their properties, as so many in Portland do, lose them. They are repossessed by the city and given to artists with a plan to turn them into "live/work spaces". Artists do this work anyway, revitalizing blighted areas all over America, but are rarely recognized. Cities save millions on the work that artists do for neglected neighborhoods. A blight reduction initiative program would provide an incentive for landowners to give back to the community and provide more opportunities for artists to live and work in what consistantly ranks as one of the most overpriced cities in America. I am grateful Sam Adams is having this discussion.

I was surprised when I first started looking for professional spaces to work that time and noise restrictions were so common that I found it impossible to consider renting a space. I like to work late some nights if my work is going well and listen to music--sometimes loud music. Also I am a stone sculptor and must use grinders and saws regularly. The costs of course are too high as the people renting properties are not in the charity business; they are out to make money in a thriving real estate market. I don't know what can be done about that. I agree with a lot of the other comments made, however, I don't want anyone offering me a community space, shared toilets, reduced rent, annexed spaces in old warehouses and the like. All that sounds too much like control from the outside and a very long waiting list. A list some of you would like to shorten by some kind of authentication process removing the unworthies except of course for yourself. I'll make all my own opportunities and if we all continue oing our work and doing it in our way, not better or more 'real' than the other guy, but art, then an artist community will develop and thrive and take some unforeseen shape. I make a meager living from my sculpture and work out of my garage 7 days a week late nights and up early in the morning. Good luck to you all.

Why do I smell city-subsidized housing for starving artists who can't pay anything being next up on the menu?

i agree with the last post. is this survey meant to be funny?

answer: the biggest possible space for the least amount of money.

a sink is a plus.

a bathroom is a plus.

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.

Why is this a government matter. Limit the government's role to getting rid of government roadblocks to affordable housing of all types.

A good start would be the expensive permitting fees and regulations.

A second step would be to end the artificial shortage of land that is driving up cost of housing. (supply and demand is a really simple concept to understand)

Thanks
JK

a person who looks to the future is well served by looking to the past. portland has never treated artists kindly in terms of work space. i moved here in the 1970's and old town ("the pearl") was many square blocks of unused warehouses that an artist couldn't get near. no owner wanted anything to do with the liability issues especially where high voltage (kilns, welding, etc) were concerned -- although, ironically, that's what many of the aforementioned warehouses were built for.

then, in the biggest plot twist of all, developers started developing "the pearl" and had the unmitigated gall to "design" and market them as artists lofts -- something they never were. in fact just prior to development i received several surveys in the mail rife with stupid questions like "if an artist lived in a loft what kind of kitchen cabinets would he/she prefer? choices: french provincial, country kitchen, etc. etc." the correct answer to that question (if the developers knew the first thing about artists) is that the artist would either design their own cabinetry or go down to ralph miles liquidators and find something funky but functional and have kitchen cabinets unlike anybody else's. that what makes art original. and if you look at other cities experience, run-down neighborhoods were happy to rent to artists. artists then brought the neighborhoods up and had the spaces sold out from under them and they would have to go looking for a new run-down neighborhood. portland was never even that smart.

so now "the pearl" is "the pearl". and alberta is coming up as is beaumont and other neighborhoods. so in what part of town are the newly-enlightened landlords going to offer their spaces to artists? sandy? zigzag? boring, perhaps?

i think portland has dug it's own grave in terms of nurturing artists. i would be happy to rent a CHEAP workspace, but i work at home -- and am happy to do so.

jACK! THANK YOU! But we are in the blogosphere minority.

You need to drink more Kool-aid if you want to blend in the 2%ferArt groupies.

Artists should depend on government for housing, theater remodels, trendy/affluent consumers, and public commissions. You can't survive without Government's help, you should know that by now. That's why collectivist countries always produce the best artists: we depend on each other.

Try this test to see if you're a real artist:

1. Have you ever been to furzed thirsty?

2. Is there a "Keep Portland Weird" bumper sticker on your Volvo?

3. Did you vote for Sam?

Three out of three right: Congratulations Warhol.
Two out of three right: wear more black.
Only one right: you need a Tri-Met commission, and try to drink more.

I don't really need to live in the same are that I work, though it would be nice: I just need work space. I'm part of a theatre group and we rehearse 5-6 days/nights a week, so our only desires are space, space, space.

Most countries provide this to artists, because there are lots of warehouses and abandoned factories and train stations around, and might as well give or cheaply rent them to artists. The space is just sitting there anyway, and artists will revitalize the environment. The artists will almost certainly achieve greater focus and output in their own work, there will be an excitement and buzz about the area and about the city itself: it's a win-win scenario, if you ask me.

How about a sub-catagory of both Commercial and Residental Zoning that allows for the specific needs/residence of artists.

Able to live in a commercial space with admended "basic" code requirements.

Must be renewed every two (2) years.

Provide tax breaks for owners who rezone to -Artist zoning catagory.

Just a suggestion.

I hear Eugene or Vancouver Canada (Stanley Park) have a lot of parks and open spaces, so you may want to consider moving there.