Artspace Projects’ Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) for Tampa revealed a pressing need to address economic disparities and provide affordable housing in the region’s rapidly expanding market. With 58 active live-work facilities throughout the United States, Artspace Projects – a nonprofit that uses the tools of real estate development to create affordable places where artists can live and work as well as non-residential space for artists, arts organizations, and other creative industries – provides vast cultural and economic opportunities for Tampa.
The initiative to bring an Artspace facility to Tampa is backed by a diverse coalition of elected officials, community leaders, artists, civic organizations, and philanthropists because of its promise to help revive struggling neighborhoods, bring back affordability to rapidly gentrifying communities, provide arts-driven economic development activities, and attract visitors to the area.
In January 2021, the consulting team at Artspace Projects concluded research findings for the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) and delivered the PFS report to Artspace Tampa Initiative’s Steering Committee. Artspace Projects strongly recommended moving forward with steps toward a project in Tampa – most likely be a new, mixed-use building.
The PFS revealed: