Author: Landsmark, Theodore C.

Publication Year: 1980

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This report on the efforts of the Artists Foundation to develop affordable living and working spaces for artists in the Greater Boston Area was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In documenting the approach used in Boston to revitalize deteriorating neighborhoods by using vacant warehouse and industrial buildings for artists' living and working spaces, the researchers examined the history and justification for the connection between the arts community and neighborhood revitalization, and the advantages and disadvantages of concentrating artists within neighborhoods.

Abstract:

This report on the efforts of the Artists Foundation to develop affordable living and working spaces for artists in the Greater Boston Area was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In documenting the approach used in Boston to revitalize deteriorating neighborhoods by using vacant warehouse and industrial buildings for artists' living and working spaces, the researchers examined the history and justification for the connection between the arts community and neighborhood revitalization, and the advantages and disadvantages of concentrating artists within neighborhoods.

An assessment of the requirements for space for various sectors of the arts community precedes the case study of the Foundation's Art Space Project, Inc., both as initially conceived to include The Ford Foundation loan participation, and as actually completed through the development of artists' living and working space condominiums at 86 South Street, Boston.

The research and literature search revealed a particularly interesting characteristic of this project. Most models of artists' housing development have been implemented by groups of artists developing properties for artists for profit, often with public subsidies. Here, the question emerged as to whether a private sector, not-for-profit philanthropic entity could successfully develop living and working spaces for artists (or other groups with limited economic resources), in a competitive real estate market, and without public subsidies. (Preface).

CONTENTS
Preface.
Acknowledgments.

Chapter 1. The arts and neighborhood revitalization.
Chapter 2. Parameters of recent municipal efforts to encourage artists living and
                working spaces.
Chapter 3. Artists assessments of space requirements.
Chapter 4. Public sector incentives.
Chapter 5. The Artists Foundation Art Space Project, Inc.
Chapter 6. Conclusions.

Appendix A. Findings: Artists space survey.
Appendix B. 86 South Street plans.
Appendix C. Financing strategies for artists housing in Massachusetts.
Appendix D. Artists Foundation pro-forma for developing four school buildings.
Appendix E. CHPA options for resident controlled ownership.

Bibliography.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Artists-Resources for