Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts/Historic West Side School

Creative Living for Creative People

1310 S.W. 2nd Court /301 S.W. 13th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33312

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Overview

 

Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts and its companion project, the Historic West Side School, owe their existence to the persistence of Mary Becht, former Director of the Broward County Division of Cultural Affairs. In 1998, Ms. Becht invited Artspace to investigate the potential creation of an affordable mixed-use facility that would preserve and restore the Historic West Side School, one of Fort Lauderdale’s four original school buildings.

 

The school occupied part of a 13-acre site in the Sailboat Bend neighborhood, about a mile west of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Although the property was sold to a private developer, Lennar Homes, the community persuaded civic leaders and Lennar to include housing for artists in its redevelopment plans so that Sailboat Bend would retain its unique character as an arts district.

 

Completed in late 2007, the Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts now provide 37 affordable live/work units for artists and their families, plus a spectacular three-story community room where artists hold meetings, exhibitions, lectures, and other events. Next door, the renovated Historic West Side School serves as a home for the Broward County Historical Commission. 

 

Architect: Zyscovich Architects

Community Partner: Broward County Cultural Division; Broward County Historical Commission

Funders: Bank Atlantic Foundation; David and Francie Horvitz Family Foundation, Inc.; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Financial Partners: Broward County Board of Commissioners; Broward County Cultural Division; Broward County Housing Finance Authority; Citibank Community Development; City of Fort Lauderdale; RBC- Apollo Equity Partners; RBC Dain Rauscher; Raymond James

est. 2007

Type of Development:

Live/Work Artist Housing

Number of Units:

37

Total Project Cost:

$13M

Features:

Resident Gallery Space