1600 Meeting Street, just moments from downtown, is envisioned as a local creative cluster that would provide office space, artist studios, a design center, non-profit hub, black-box theater, restaurant, incubator kitchen, community business resource center, and a collaborative work environment. Basically, an all around GOOD IDEA center.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

 

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

In a beautiful building (in need of a facelift), just moments from down town, we envision a combination market place, small-business incubator, design center, artist studio, non-profit center, urban farm, black-box theater, restaurant, and all around GOOD IDEA center. A place where creatives of all kinds can work both independently and COLLABORATIVELY to better transform their businesses and in turn our community.

Essentially, this ‘yet to be named’ office building becomes more than just a place to work, it becomes a place to create. A commercial space where creative capital is exchanged, ideas and passions circulate from floor to ceiling and all tenants are made better by the company they keep. A bricks and mortar microcosm of the creative community we know Charleston supports. Put some of these folks in a building together and watch them THRIVE.

There is power in numbers as Charleston’s Parliament has clearly proven in their research. The creative force is a force to be reckoned with. Our idea is to take this “power in numbers” approach and give them affordable, adaptable, creative, collaborative, and stimulating space in which to grow to their fullest potential.

So what’s the name of the building? You’ll have to wait and see. We’ll let one of the first creative tenants tell you that. It’s their space. So we think it only fitting that one of them name it, though a collaborative name branding contest. Let’s collaborate, people.

THE BUILDING

  • The property consists of 3 buildings. Two smaller out buildings of 950 square feet and 2,200 square feet +/-. We envision a restaurant and a theater in these 2 out buildings.
  • The larger building is 11,200 square feet, 3 floors, and can house multiple businesses in the creative sub-cluster, non-profit, and local small businesses
  • There is ample parking and an interior courtyard at the large building
  • Price per square foot would be approx $ 13-17/sq foot. But early “anchors” and non-profits will be offered a lower negotiated price
  • Grant assistance could help subsidize rent for start-up businesses
  • All space can be customized to desired square footage

THE SPACE INSIDE

  • All spaces can be renovated to tenants needs with the possibility of an “incubator” style growth model.
  • We ask that tenants contribute to HOA building fund
  • Affordable rents
  • Ample parking, close to downtown
  • Shared conference room and business center
  • Library
  • Mail services
  • Free WiFi
  • Common restrooms
  • Gallery Space
  • Monthly (or as often as needed) openings of building for community lectures, events, and open-houses.

CORE VALUES

  • Working should be fun
  • Creating something is your work
  • Sharing and collaborating is important to success
  • You want to be productive and profitable
  • Community is important to you
  • You play well with others
  • You love where you live
  • You want to make where you live a better place by fostering creativity in yourself and promoting it in others

IDEAL TENANTS: CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

  • Interior and Fashion Design
  • Community Development
  • Digital Media and Design
  • Architecture and Urban Design
  • Film and Video
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Literary Arts and Publishing
  • Performing and Visual Arts
  • Culinary
  • Retail Co-op

THE COLLABORATIVE PART

  • Space reserved on first floor of building for co-op retail store, merchandised by local designers.
  • Do not have to be a tenant to be included in retail store, but must be willing to work sales hours as part of agreement, store managed by volunteer designers
  • Application process to have goods in store to focus on quality and variety. Designers can cycle in and out.
  • Forge relationships with all local fashion designers, lifestyle designers, and crafts.
  • Percentage of each sale goes towards monthly rent of space.
  • Design resource center and light manufacturing inside building, exploring possibilities now
  • Work with city to designate this area as the Creative Corridor, discussions already begun
  • Organize existing tenants in the area around the concept
  • Launch initiative to attract more creative based companies to the area

REVOLUTIONIZING WORK LIFE

“I think the reason coworking has taken off so well in the last four to five years in the States is that when the economy bottomed out and people were released from their work, they started being creative about how to find themselves, how to work differently, how to reengineer their lives. I don’t think people are eager to go back to the way it was.”

- Ken Janke, New Urban Network

PEER PROJECTS

New Haven, CT: The Bourse
Braddock, PA: Transformazium
Atlanta, GA: Westside Provisions District
Atlanta, GA: King Plow Arts Center
Berkley, CA: David Brower Center
Raleigh, NC: Design Box

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