New arts center to open south of Five Points (Atlanta: rental, lofts)

[tikigod311]

According to Creative Loafing, a new arts center has been announced that caters to aspiring artists in the old Rich's building. Apparently it will offer workspace at affordable prices and will offer 24 hour access to some members. The space is being developed to create an environment that foster creativity and collaboration for aspiring artists.

Info here
http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/...lding-downtown

Another win for Atlanta. Always a fan of anything that is privately funded and improves the art scene in Atlanta. Not to mention that the area south of Five Points desperately needs some invigorating. Maybe something like this well help spur businesses between Downtown and Castleberry Hill. One can dream, right?

[jsvh]

That link did not work for me but this one did: Arts center opens in old Rich's building downtown | Atlanta News & Opinion Blog | Fresh Loaf | Creative Loafing Atlanta

Looks like all around a good thing.

[cqholt]

Great news. South Downtown has such great potential, with small blocks, good infrastructure, great transit coverage, and cheap prices. Maybe this will spur more residential development by artist and more fringe groups.

[tikigod311]

Link fixed, thanks.

Originally Posted by cqholt

Great news. South Downtown has such great potential, with small blocks, good infrastructure, great transit coverage, and cheap prices. Maybe this will spur more residential development by artist and more fringe groups.

I totally agree that the area south of five points has boatload of potential. That area is totally underutilized as is. Cool old buildings and great transit coverage would make for a great new bar district too. Maybe an area with later serving hours? Would be a hard sell right now, but I think if some "pioneers" want to start moving in the area and establishing a community it would be natural evolution. Right now it would really only appeal to a very small set of the population, and those in the art community are one of them.

[cqholt]

Right now it would really only appeal to a very small set of the population, and those in the art community are one of them.

But those are some of the first 'pioneers' to move into an area and improve it.

[JPD]

The arts have a long history in that part of Downtown. Glad to see it continue.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by cqholt

But those are some of the first 'pioneers' to move into an area and improve it.

Right. And that's how many places evolve from wasteland to strongly desired. Here's hoping this helps get that process started.

[BroadStJudge]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Link fixed, thanks.


I totally agree that the area south of five points has boatload of potential. That area is totally underutilized as is. Cool old buildings and great transit coverage would make for a great new bar district too. Maybe an area with later serving hours? Would be a hard sell right now, but I think if some "pioneers" want to start moving in the area and establishing a community it would be natural evolution. Right now it would really only appeal to a very small set of the population, and those in the art community are one of them.

We already moved in the area 15 years ago. Kessler City Lofts are located directly across the street from this new center. We are very excited about our new neighbors.

[arjay57]

This reminds me of a recent article in Popular Mechanics about a young guy in Detroit who did something a lot like this.

Folks up there are really turning that city around. No reason it couldn't happen here, too.

Andy Didorosi had a hunch in 2012. He felt that his hometown, given up for dead, was about to start a new life. Didorosi, 23 at the time, leased an old industrial building near the city's northern limit. He posted a notice on Craigslist, hoping people would come to his big empty building to share tools and ideas, make stuff, and maybe start a small business or two. "The response was incredible," he says. "Overnight we had enough tenants in here for it to make financial sense."

The 22,000-square-foot facility he named Paper Street attracted graphic artists, jewelry-makers, Web designers, carpenters, metalworkers, a music publicist, a spice-maker, and a motorcycle mechanic. They paid as little as $99 a month for a work space; Didorosi added to the rental income by refurbishing meat slicers and other equipment from bankrupt supermarkets and selling the appliances to new businesses. The money allowed him to buy three Blue Bird buses and start a jitney service to supplement city bus routes. Now, in 2025, Didorosi runs the thriving Detroit Bus Co., and 20-plus small businesses rent space at Paper Street.

The Motor City Business Startup Boom - Detroit 2025 - Popular Mechanics