| Creating Creative Space | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Weathered/Leming (nnwac mcs.net)
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| Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 13:41:54 -0500 | |
A cohousing group in Chicago has been hard at work for five years, and with any luck we will break ground this summer, move in by the end of the year. Sixteen artists and their families are working to build the Acme Artists Cooperative, using the cohousing model in an urban setting on the northwest side of Chicago. Organized as a limited equity cooperative several years ago, members purchased a 40,000 square foot warehouse with a bridge loan from the Chicago Community Loan Fund, a revolving loan fund to assist non profit based development. Acme shareholders have designed common area resources to include community room and kitchen, workshop with tools, darkroom, laundry, resource library, office services (fax, copy, mailing, marketing), exhibit space, roof deck garden and two story atrium at the heart of twenty two work/live units. Three commercial spaces will house the organizing partner Near NorthWest Arts Council, and two non profit organizations: a video production and training center for youth, and a non profit organization offering training, advocacy and planning assistance for cooperative housing. The targeted market for Acme Cooperative are families earning between $15,000 and $30,000 and who have been displaced in a rampant, gentrified market. New state and city assistance is available for home ownership targeted to our income levels, although none is available to us. The reasons: Artists chose to be poor, and Acme membership is not available to the public at large. In Chicago, Church sponsored home ownership has received consistent public subsidies. Our values reflect our need to create a viable, sustainable, and diverse community with democratic controls that offers specific resources for our work. We aren't looking for hand outs but rather a low interest loan as a second mortgage that makes our project feasible. Foundations often support planning initiatives, training and technical assistance but not to the working group. The National Cooperative Bank was early to commit but a 9% mortgage doesn't work without a subsidy. The good news is that we structured a strong community before we tackled the bricks and mortar, consensus works and we won't take no for an answer. Can members of the cohousing list offer advice, or effective strategies going against traditional thinking of who constitutes a community? Comments? Laura Weathered, Project Director =================================================== Weathered/Leming voice 773.278.7677 Near NorthWest Arts Council fax 773.278.8451 Acme Artists Cooperative email nnwac [at] mcs.com 2418 W Bloomingdale Chicago, IL 60647 Artists Building Community =================================================== =================================================== Weathered/Leming voice 773.278.7677 Near NorthWest Arts Council fax 773.278.8451 Acme Artists Cooperative email nnwac [at] mcs.com 2418 W Bloomingdale Chicago, IL 60647 Artists Building Community ===================================================
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