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Artspace plans moving forward

The downtown facility’s design calls for studio/apartment units, retail space, a gallery, more.

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 2:43 AM Wednesday, September 15, 2010

HAMILTON — Artspace representatives on Tuesday unveiled preliminary floor plans for the proposed studio/living space project that is expected to open downtown in two-and-a-half years.

The plans, drawn up by SHP Leading Design, call for four floors of facilities. Plans for the first floor at the Hamilton Center Building, 222 High St., include studio/apartment units ranging from about 800 square feet to 1,500 square feet.

Other facilities include retail space, a community room/art gallery and an amphitheater.

The plans were revealed at a community meeting attended by about 40 people at Miami University Hamilton Downtown, across the street from the Artspace site.

Greg Handberg, vice president for properties for the Minneapolis-based organization, said that out of the 30 projects attempted, only two that reached the same stage as Hamilton’s did not come to fruition.

The space does come with regulations and limitations. As it is planned, there are only 20 parking spaces, and Handberg admitted that is “not enough for now.”

Admission to Artspace would be regulated by a peer review process with input from local artists and Artspace personnel, he said.

“We don’t restrict it to artists, but we give preference to folks who are artists,” Handberg said.

The rent would run from $360 a month for the smallest spaces, and $1,000 a month for the largest, he said.

“I’m completely on board and ready to move in there,” said Ben Ervin, a Hamilton artist who attended the meeting.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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