ArtBlock

ArtBlock includes the construction of two new five story buildings framing the historic Joshua Bates Art Center on a residential block in the South End neighborhood of Boston.   The new construction program includes a mix of 28 market rate townhomes and lofts, 26 affordable artist live/work lofts, a new exhibition gallery, and enclosed parking.  The former Joshua Bates School will continue to be used as artist work-only studios, and has been refurbished with important accessibility and life safety improvements.

ArtBlock represents the first disposition of publicly owned land in Mayor Menino's Artist Space Initiative, an effort designed to preserve the ability of individual artists to remain in the city despite skyrocketing real estate values.   Developed in response to an RFP by the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the project is funded by the BRA, the City's Department of Neighborhood Development, syndication of Historic Tax Credits on the Bates Arts Center, and construction loans from Wainwright Bank, the Property Casualty Initiative, and Bank of America.  The 21 million dollar project was completed in fall of 2006.