Mesa Artspace Lofts will open in June 2018, says Heidi Zimmer, senior vice president for property development with Artspace. The development will include up to 50 affordable housing units designed for artists and other creatives.
Artspace is a Minnesota-based nonprofit real estate development firm that specializes in affordable live/work spaces for artists. It's 2016 year-end review noted 46 projects in 19 states. This is the first Artspace development planned for Arizona.
Back in 2012, Artspace began working with the City of Mesa to explore the possibility of bringing an Artspace development to the city. And it partnered with a Mesa-based nonprofit called Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO), which works to catalyze economic development in metro Phoenix communities.
Artspace conducted a six-month market survey of art space needs in and around Mesa and held five community meetings to gather input on the possible project. More than 660 artists weighed in during the process, Zimmer says.
This month, Mesa Artspace Lofts reaches a significant milestone, Its ceremonial groundbreaking at 155 South Hibbert in downtown Mesa happens on Wednesday, May 24.
Mesa Artspace Lofts will include up to 50 units of live/work space for artists and their families. Artspace defines the term "artist" broadly to include both visual and performance artists, as well as those working in creative fields such as architecture and design