Artist housing could jumpstart North Trail

For artists in Sarasota, a recent visit from the consulting firm Artspace represented a path toward oft-requested affordable live/work housing. For stakeholders along the North Trail, it offered the potential realization of another long-awaited goal.

From April 8 to April 10, Artspace consultants were in town, meeting with artists, bankers, politicians and other leaders to determine if Sarasota is a good fit for the company. Artspace, based out of Minneapolis, is a nonprofit that develops affordable live/work housing for artists. The company has built 35 housing complexes — including one in Fort Lauderdale — and maintains these developments to ensure the projects remain a space for local artists.

Local artist Veronica Morgan spearheaded the effort to bring the group to Sarasota. She rallied support and funding from the city, the Sarasota Alliance for Historical Conservation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. In all, Morgan helped raise $15,000 from various interested parties toward the Artspace consultation, which focused on the North Trail.

As a result, Morgan also piqued the interest of the North Trail Redevelopment Partnership. The group, whose membership includes business owners and leaders from nearby institutions such as New College of Florida and the Ringling Museum, has advocated for a revitalized North Trail since its inception in 2009.

Jay Patel, chairman of the North Trail Redevelopment Partnership, said Artspace’s visit could lead to precisely the type of project the group has long envisioned. The path to redevelopment along the trail starts with one interested party willing to undertake a catalyst project, Patel said.

With a developer focused on more than just a bottom line, Patel believes this could be that project.

Because the North Trail serves as a link between performing-arts venues, colleges and museums, Patel and others see it as a natural place for artists’ housing. With a dearth of affordable live/work space around the city, potential tenants would be less reluctant to move in. On all sides, the pieces seemed to fit — particularly with Artspace involved.

“We thought this would be a perfect place-making project,” Patel said. “They have changed places across the country.”

Stacey Micklesen, Artspace’s vice president of government relations, verified Patel’s belief that an Artspace housing development could have a transformative impact. He said that older projects have inspired adjacent artist spaces, although it’s not an instant transformation.

Still, Micklesen said, an Artspace project not only fits what North Trail stakeholders want — the North Trail is the type of environment Artspace targets.

“We aren’t looking to go into the up-and-coming cool neighborhood,” Mickelsen said. “We’re looking to create it.”

Although it’s too early for the company to decide whether it’s interested in developing a project in Sarasota, Artspace Senior Vice President Wendy Holmes said she could already identify positive aspects and potential hurdles. First and foremost, Holmes said, the city has a strong artist community in need of space. The biggest question, she said, is how the rest of the community would support the project.

A passionate arts community is important, but buy-in from local government officials and the private sector is just as crucial to accomplishing an Artspace project, Holmes said. The company is a nonprofit, but, at some point, it has to receive assurance that a project is financially feasible.

“All of these projects are public and private partnerships,” Holmes said. “It takes a lot of participation by a lot of people to make these projects possible.”

Artspace consultants are now working on producing a preliminary feasibility study, and should finish that report in six to eight weeks. After initially determining whether a development in Sarasota could work, Artspace may undertake market studies to better gauge demand in the community. Even if Sarasota ultimately gets an Artspace project, it will probably be a minimum of three years before any building is in place.

Regardless of the wait, Patel believes the city should unite behind this project — especially considering how long the North Trail has waited for redevelopment.

“The private development community is not on the trail,” Patel said. “That’s where we’re looking for Artspace to come in and be transformative.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected]