In
2015, The Center for Craft, in partnership with the Asheville Area Chamber of
Commerce, commissioned Minneapolis-based Artspace Consulting to conduct a
preliminary feasibility assessment and report as the first step towards
developing affordable space solutions for artists and the creative sector in
Asheville, North Carolina.
Artspace
Consulting recently submitted their preliminary feasibility assessment
findings, which confirm the need for affordable housing and workspaces for
artists and creatives. Artspace has recommended that Asheville move forward
with an Arts Market Survey to test demand for an 80-unit affordable housing
development. They met with over 200 stakeholders during a visit to
Asheville in March 2017. The visit included meetings with artists, city
officials, philanthropic, cultural and business leaders, and the general
public. (click HERE
to view the Preliminary Feasibility Report)
Stephanie
Moore, Executive Director of the Center for Craft, views the project as a top
community priority. "We know that Asheville has a tremendous creative
sector that has significantly shaped the region's identity and culture for the
past 100 years. We also know that many artists and creatives are leaving due to
the rapidly increasing cost of living, putting Asheville's culture at risk.
Developing affordable housing and space solutions for artists and creatives who
represent a wide cross-section of the community, from our service sector, to
our educators, to small business entrepreneurs."
The
project partnership came to fruition after a Fall 2015 meeting between the
Center for Craft, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic
Development Coalition. "I became a quick fan of the Center's work. They
are the national thought leader for the field of craft and are located here in
Asheville," remarked Kit Cramer, President/CEO of the Asheville Area
Chamber of Commerce. "Craft has been and continues to be an economic
success story of this region. As our organizations explored potential areas of
collaboration, an affordable housing initiative that retains artists, makers
and creatives emerged as an obvious fit. We put together a strong community
leadership team and successfully raised the necessary funds for the study. I am
thrilled with the initial results and look forward to continuing to move the project
forward," said Cramer.
The
community leadership group includes:
Mayor
Esther Manheimer, City of Asheville
Peter
Alberice, MHAworks
Kit
Cramer, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Mike
Marcus, Center for Craft
Stacey
Millett, UNC Asheville
Stephanie
Moore, Center for Craft
Sam
Powers, City of Asheville Economic Development
Tara
Scholtz, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
Brent
Skidmore, UNC Asheville
Dana
Stonestreet, HomeTrust Bank
Artspace
Recommendation
Artspace
is the national nonprofit leader for developing affordable artist housing and
studio space. Their team was initially attracted to Asheville's reputation as
the arts-magnet of the Southeast. Once under contract, Artspace focused on
assessing the unique characteristics of Asheville's creative sector, affordable
housing needs, philanthropic capacity, and political will. They leveraged their
experience in building successful affordable artist housing options around the
country to make recommendations on a project most likely to succeed here in
Asheville: an 80-unit mixed use affordable housing development for artists.
In
response to Artspace's recommended path forward, Asheville's civic,
philanthropic and cultural leaders have successfully raised the funds to move
forward with the Arts Market Survey, scheduled to launch late January
2018.
The
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) has been supportive of
the project since its inception and worked to ensure that the feasibility
assessment had the funding it needed to be successful. "We admire the work
of Artspace and were intrigued by their past projects. We are proud to work
with the Center for Craft, [Asheville Area] Chamber of Commerce, and City of
Asheville to bring them to this region," said Tara Scholtz, Senior Program
Officer at CFWNC. "
Priority
Development Site: City's "Ice House" Site Located @ 81-91 Riverside
Drive
A
key aspect of the preliminary feasibility assessment included an evaluation of
10 potential development sites in Asheville, all of which are owned/controlled
by governmental and institutional organizations, including the City of
Asheville, UNC Asheville and the Center for Craft. Artspace used their
standardized evaluation criterion that factors in property location, size,
conditions, zoning/land use, acquisition/site control, sustained community
impact and alignment with community priorities.
Based
on this early assessment, Artspace identified the City-owned parcel located in
the River Arts District at 81-91 Riverside Drive (I.E. "Ice House")
as the priority development site. Artspace noted that in spite of challenging
site conditions, retaining artists in the River Arts District is a priority
when taking into consideration their 'sustainable community impact' metrics.
For this reason, they identified the City's Bartlett Street site as their
second site preference. In the assessment, Artspace noted that it is still too
early in the feasibility phase to conclude that either is a perfect solution
and that additional sites may be identified as they move through the
feasibility and due diligence process.
Mayor
Esther Manheimer was an early advocate of the project and sits on the Core
Leadership Group. "Affordable housing
continues to be a priority for the city of Asheville. The Artspace's preliminary
recommendation for an affordable housing development for artists in the River
Arts District is exciting. I look forward working with our community partners
to move this project forward," remarked Manheimer.
Arts
Market Survey
The
Arts Market Survey provides an opportunity to test assumptions and develop a
project concept that meets the community's needs. Mike Marcus, Assistant
Director at the Center for Craft, has led the initiative since its inception.
Marcus views the Arts Market Survey as a critical next step, "This is
where the rubber meets the road. It's critical that everyone who considers
themselves an artist, maker, musician, performer, designer and/or 'creative' be
counted, whether it's their full-time pursuit or part-time passion."
Towards that end, an ad-hoc arts leadership advisory group has been
established. "In order to make sure that everyone is accounted for and
considered, this has to be a community-wide approach. We are inviting a wide
array of organizations to help us reach out and publicize the survey. If we
haven't found you, please reach out and help us spread the word!"
The
Arts Market Survey launches in late January 2018 and will run for 6 weeks. To
learn more and for project updates, visit www.craftcreativitydesign.org.
Funding
Partners
The
preliminary feasibility assessment and arts market survey have been generously
funded by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, City of
Asheville, Ted and Senator Terry Van Duyn, Duke Energy Foundation, HomeTrust
Bank, Dana and Jana Stonestreet, and Diamond Brand Gear.
###
ABOUT ARTSPACE
Established in 1979, Artspace is a national nonprofit real estate
developer that specializes in creating, owning, and operating affordable
housing and studio space for artists and creative sector businesses. They
currently own and operate 42-projects across the country and have made over
$700 million in real estate investments to-date. www.artspace.org
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CRAFT
Founded in 1996, The Center for Craft is a national 501c3
nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of craft through
fostering new ideas, funding craft scholarship, and backing the next generation
of makers, curators and critics. The Center has developed a strong national
reputation as a significant resource for artists, museums, academic
researchers, university students and arts organizations. Each year, the Center
for Craft administers over a quarter million dollars in grants to those working
in the craft field. www.craftcreativitydesign.org
ABOUT THE ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a member organization
with more than 1,700 member businesses and organizations. Chamber members
collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the
community and each other with the mission of building community through
business. The Asheville Chamber focuses on growing jobs, serving as a voice for
business and fostering member success.
www.ashevillechamber.org
