A report commissioned by a Portland arts group suggests the city has strong potential to develop more studio space where artists can live and work.
The report identifies five potential sites for development, including the Hampshire-Federal block in the India Street neighborhood and a city-owned property on Hanover Street in West Bayside. The other three are an empty lot on Newbury Street, the St. Lawrence Arts Center on Munjoy Hill and a J.B. Brown building on West Commercial Street.
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Donald Sussman, husband of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, owns the Hampshire-Federal property.
Creative Portland Corp., a nonprofit group working to build Portland’s creative economy, commissioned the national nonprofit real estate developer Artspace to conduct a feasibility study.
Artspace came to Portland in September to do research. Artspace’s mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations.
“We didn’t think the report would tell us something we didn’t already know, but this report is definitely saying that Portland is ready for more live/work space for artists,” said Jennifer Hutchins, Creative Portland’s executive director. The report and follow-up market survey will “provide the data that we need to convince the financial institutions that this isn’t a hunch,” she said.
Portland already has buildings where artists can live and work in a single space, including a new one going up on Oak Street and a private development near Deering Oaks Park. They total a few dozen units.
This report suggests the city could support more such development.
For Creative Portland, the next step is to raise money for a market survey.
It is seeking either $30,000 to survey artists, or $43,000 to survey artists and arts organizations. The larger study would include an examination of the space needs of local arts organizations.
“What are the needs? What is the demand? The survey needs to be data driven and practical about the type of project that would work here,” Hutchins said.
The report says, “Portland is more than ready for the next phase of the process. It’s high time for Creative Portland and their collaborators to quantify the need so that serious discussion can begin, so that others whose support will ultimately be needed can have reliable information about the market for affordable live/work artist housing, studio space and facilities for arts organizations in Portland and the collective economic power represented by that market.”
Creative Portland would then search for investors for a project.
The value of the report is the national perspective of its author, Hutchins added.
“Artspace has been doing this kind of work since the 1970s and has 38 sites around the country. They come in with specific expertise in developing this kind of space for artists. It is always valuable to see what the best practices are in other parts of the country. Having them come in and give an outsiders’ perspective with a certain expertise has a lot of merit,” she said.
Artspace staff members spent two days in Portland in September, and talked with more than 150 people about the idea.
Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at:791-6457 or: bkeyes@pressherald.com
Twitter: pphbkeyes
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