Across America, cities are discovering ways to tap into their local arts community to spur economic development, foster job creation, and create a more unique sense of place. More than 400 local artists in El Paso responded to a survey indicating their interest in an Artspace-style project providing access to permanently affordable, high quality space to live and work. In partnership with the El Paso Community Foundation and the City of El Paso, Artspace transformed a vacant lot downtown into an arts destination animated by artists and creative businesses, helping to rejuvenate a challenged neighborhood. This beautiful new building blends 51 affordable live/work units for artists and their families with 5,000 square feet of multi-purpose nonprofit commercial space and a large community room.
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Architect: ASA Architects and HHL Architects
Team: Jordan Foster Construction, YAX Consulting and Design, 360 Engineering, Robinet Electrical Engineering, Inc HKN Engineers, and UAH Property Management
Funders: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the City of El Paso, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Raymond James Tax Credit Funds, Wells Fargo Bank, The El Paso Community Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Meadows Foundation.
Special thanks to Chris Cummings and Katherine Brennand for orchestrating Artspace's arrival in El Paso, and for securing the development site.
est. 2016
Type of Development:
Mixed-Use Housing & Commercial
Number of Units:
51
Total Square Footage:
58,000
Total Project Cost:
$12.7M
These types of projects not only generate a place for artists to live and to showcase their work. They tend to attract other types of businesses drawn to the location by the concentration of people. It’s a tried and proven model.
