2009

Sparkweekly/Delawareonline.com

Affordable downtown digs for artists

Just because starving artists are willing to sacrifice material goods in order to focus on their work, doesn't mean they should have to constantly hunger for decent digs where they can hang their brushes and hone their craft.

Good thing is, if you're a starving artist in Wilmington, affordable housing and work space will soon be available, thanks to the Shipley Lofts, which are currently under construction at the corner of 7th and Shipley streets.

Once completed early in 2010, the 23 units will be open to artists in all genres and disciplines (from music to woodwork and functional to technical), with 80 percent of the housing set to be priced below market value and 20 percent going at market price.

"The goal is to create a critical mass downtown, where artists work and live and thrive," Michael Kalmbach, Director of the New Wilmington Art Association, said. "In order for Wilmington to progress as an art community, we need to take ownership and support each other. Relatively inexpensive housing at Shipley will help in both regards."

The building itself, which has served as a furniture showroom and Sears-Roebuck, was purchased by the neighboring Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew some 16 years ago, who then created the Shipley Village Community Development Organization. The SVCDO is now working with the The Ingerman Group, a local developer well-versed in low-income and affordable housing, who are looking to artists to fill the space by February.

Ingerman Development Principal David Holden said the gutted building is 50 percent on its way to being renovated. The finished project will include 23 loft-style apartments just under 900 square feet apiece, with a gallery for shows and exhibitions on the bottom floor.

"We kept the shell of the building, which will feature lots of large windows and natural light for the artists to work in," Holden said. "The building hopefully will serve as an anchor for artists and the arts-related energy that is helping to revitalize downtown."

The Ingerman Group and SVCDO will begin taking applications from artists in November. The process will be three-fold, in that applicants must first qualify as a perspective renter, followed by an income and credit check, and then artistically through an interview.

"We need to be certain they are working artists who will be active in the community, participate in the exhibits," Michael said.

According to Holden, a committee of Wilmingtonians "already involved in the arts community in some capacity downtown" will conduct the interview. As for the income portion, apartments will be available to those who fall at a certain percentage under the New Castle County median rate of roughly $77,800 a year.

"Six units will go to [potential residents who make] 50 percent below median income [or $38,900 annually], 12 units will go to [potential residents who make] 60 percent below median income [or $31,000]," Holden said. These 18 units will cost just under $700 a month for a one-bedroom loft that includes studio space.

The remaining five units will go at market rate.