Abandoned properties are encountered with rising frequency in these difficult economic times. Most people simply see them as an eyesore or a threat to security. However, there are some organizations, such as Boston Street Lab and Chashama, which have found this situation to be an opportunity to get a little creative.
If you are from the Boston area, you may not have heard of the local nonprofit, Boston Street Lab, but you most certainly are aware of some of their projects, the first of which was the Chinatown Storefront Library. This innovative temporary use of vacant property was driven by both the need for services and a desire to raise awareness around those needs. The library has served as both a place for residents to discharge books as well as a place for cultural preservation and community interaction. In fact, it has been so successful that Archstone, the incoming tenant, donated the space to extend the library’s stay to three months. Since they closed their doors in January 2010, the Chinatown Library has enriched their community in a variety of ways, among which are the dispersion of furniture and “starter book kits” to emerging libraries in the neighborhood and the development of a “Language Library” to extend the services that were previously provided at its storefront location.
In New York, an organization by the name of Chashama has as its vision the goal to serve as a supporter of cultural communities through transformation of vacant properties into “spaces where art can flourish.” Since 1995, they have done just that, through the conversion of more than 40 locations for nearly 10,000 public presentations that have been viewed altogether by more than 50,000 spectators. These spaces house a wide variety of uses, including both visual and performance art. They have also developed partnerships with some of NYC’s largest developers and property owners because this “space recycling” often adds value to the properties, since keeping public spaces and neighborhoods active, benefits owners and artists alike. Currently, there are eleven locations: ten in New York City and one within Dutchess County, New York.
Both organizations offer much to learn from their successes. Could your city be the next to join this movement?
For more about Boston Street Lab please visit: http://www.bostonstreetlab.org/
To learn more about Chashama please visit: http://www.chashama.org/home.php
If you are from the Boston area, you may not have heard of the local nonprofit, Boston Street Lab, but you most certainly are aware of some of their projects, the first of which was the Chinatown Storefront Library. This innovative temporary use of vacant property was driven by both the need for services and a desire to raise awareness around those needs. The library has served as both a place for residents to discharge books as well as a place for cultural preservation and community interaction. In fact, it has been so successful that Archstone, the incoming tenant, donated the space to extend the library’s stay to three months. Since they closed their doors in January 2010, the Chinatown Library has enriched their community in a variety of ways, among which are the dispersion of furniture and “starter book kits” to emerging libraries in the neighborhood and the development of a “Language Library” to extend the services that were previously provided at its storefront location.
In New York, an organization by the name of Chashama has as its vision the goal to serve as a supporter of cultural communities through transformation of vacant properties into “spaces where art can flourish.” Since 1995, they have done just that, through the conversion of more than 40 locations for nearly 10,000 public presentations that have been viewed altogether by more than 50,000 spectators. These spaces house a wide variety of uses, including both visual and performance art. They have also developed partnerships with some of NYC’s largest developers and property owners because this “space recycling” often adds value to the properties, since keeping public spaces and neighborhoods active, benefits owners and artists alike. Currently, there are eleven locations: ten in New York City and one within Dutchess County, New York.
Both organizations offer much to learn from their successes. Could your city be the next to join this movement?
For more about Boston Street Lab please visit: http://www.bostonstreetlab.org/
To learn more about Chashama please visit: http://www.chashama.org/home.php