Thanks for posting Ray. You almost won a cigar!
The tannery part was right. The Tannery Artspace was built by a non-profit corporation in conjunction with the city of Santa Cruz. (Not Santa Barbara! That was an inside joke!) The soil was so polluted that it was deemed necessary to scrape off sever al feet of top soil (I can’t accept the numbers that are quoted!) The area was allowed to air out for a year and the area was refilled with uncontaminated soil. There were two buildings with 50 units each built on the site. There are “studio” units, (one big room and a bathroom,) 1 bedroom units, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom units. Enough of the old buildings were allowed to remain to give it a little color. Sort of like leaving one of the oak trees in a development named “Oak Grove!” Future plans call for a Performing Arts Center, working studios, and a Gallery where visual artist can sell their art to tourist.
They were built with the idea of providing low cost, rent controlled housing for artist. FYI, Santa Cruz is annually rated among the top three most expensive places to live in the whole United States, competing with Manhattan Island, San Francisco and Hawaii! It wasn’t a lottery to get in; it was first come first serve, which necessitated getting ones butt down there a day early and camping out to get a chance at an apartment! We had a tent city going in line a day ahead! There were two interviews to qualify: one to qualify as “low income,” (and yet have enough income to make the minimum rent,) and another interview to qualify as an artist.
The “exhibitionist” is my daughter; the quick sketch artist is my wife. The black dude with the African accent is my next-door neighbor, as is the person my wife was drawing in the video. I wish I knew the young lady singing, I really do: but maybe it’s just as well that I don’t.
“...these are new age drop outs with too much time on their hands and that reporter is bent.”
Well yeah, yer probably right about the reporter, but if the tenants were dropouts they wouldn’t be here. SWMBO works her 64 year old butt off, 6 days a week. My Daughter got straight A’s all through high school so she could get grants and scholarships to go to college. She graduated with Honors and debt free! Gazelle is a web designer. Most if not all of these artist have a “real job” to support their “art jones,” or their spouses support them. You work yer butt off 30, 40 hrs a week, you pay yer rent, you feed yer family and what’s left? Well if yer a biker it’s the ride. If yer an artist it’s art. If yer both it’s… well, both!
We love it here. The community spirit is great, and I love having kids around. I was dressed in my old clown garb and had to do a little review on balloon art for the occasion. I worked part time as a kid’s party entertainer years ago and may do so again. If you think it’s easy, it’s not. Clowning is very serious business!
Gotta run. Next time I post I’ll give you the controversy, the down side, and my philosophical misgivings. Glad you liked the tape!
Special Ed
The tannery part was right. The Tannery Artspace was built by a non-profit corporation in conjunction with the city of Santa Cruz. (Not Santa Barbara! That was an inside joke!) The soil was so polluted that it was deemed necessary to scrape off sever al feet of top soil (I can’t accept the numbers that are quoted!) The area was allowed to air out for a year and the area was refilled with uncontaminated soil. There were two buildings with 50 units each built on the site. There are “studio” units, (one big room and a bathroom,) 1 bedroom units, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom units. Enough of the old buildings were allowed to remain to give it a little color. Sort of like leaving one of the oak trees in a development named “Oak Grove!” Future plans call for a Performing Arts Center, working studios, and a Gallery where visual artist can sell their art to tourist.
They were built with the idea of providing low cost, rent controlled housing for artist. FYI, Santa Cruz is annually rated among the top three most expensive places to live in the whole United States, competing with Manhattan Island, San Francisco and Hawaii! It wasn’t a lottery to get in; it was first come first serve, which necessitated getting ones butt down there a day early and camping out to get a chance at an apartment! We had a tent city going in line a day ahead! There were two interviews to qualify: one to qualify as “low income,” (and yet have enough income to make the minimum rent,) and another interview to qualify as an artist.
The “exhibitionist” is my daughter; the quick sketch artist is my wife. The black dude with the African accent is my next-door neighbor, as is the person my wife was drawing in the video. I wish I knew the young lady singing, I really do: but maybe it’s just as well that I don’t.
“...these are new age drop outs with too much time on their hands and that reporter is bent.”
Well yeah, yer probably right about the reporter, but if the tenants were dropouts they wouldn’t be here. SWMBO works her 64 year old butt off, 6 days a week. My Daughter got straight A’s all through high school so she could get grants and scholarships to go to college. She graduated with Honors and debt free! Gazelle is a web designer. Most if not all of these artist have a “real job” to support their “art jones,” or their spouses support them. You work yer butt off 30, 40 hrs a week, you pay yer rent, you feed yer family and what’s left? Well if yer a biker it’s the ride. If yer an artist it’s art. If yer both it’s… well, both!
We love it here. The community spirit is great, and I love having kids around. I was dressed in my old clown garb and had to do a little review on balloon art for the occasion. I worked part time as a kid’s party entertainer years ago and may do so again. If you think it’s easy, it’s not. Clowning is very serious business!
Gotta run. Next time I post I’ll give you the controversy, the down side, and my philosophical misgivings. Glad you liked the tape!
Special Ed
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