Excellent Use For Street-Level Space: Studios For Local Artists
When the Leather Trades Artist Lofts opened last year few were happier than those that live across the street. For years the building at 1600 Locust was dark and without activity, save for the few times someone would break in.
ABOVE: Leather Trades Artists Lofts before opening in 2011
On Sunday I finally visited the the artist studios as part of the City-Wide Open Studios tour organized by the Contemporary Art Museum.
ABOVE: A studio space accessed through the parking garage.
ABOVE: View of the YMCA across 16th Street
ABOVE: Front studio space facing Locust St.
I’m so glad the high-end condo project failed a few years ago, the building has more residents as a result of the for-rent apartments. The street-level windows are interesting rather than be vacant with “for lease” signs. The same developer is nearing completion on the Metropolitan Artist Lofts in Midtown at Grand and Olive.
Ground floor “retail” doesn’t always have to have a retail store to make a positive contribution to the pedestrian experience on the sidewalk.
– Steve Patterson