As part of Mayor Thomas M. Menino's plan to increase artisthousing in the city, three units will be set aside as affordablelive/work space for artists. BRA director Mark Maloney notes thatthe project "not only furthers the city's goal of increasing thehousing stock, but it furthers our artist housing goals byproviding affordable live/work space for artists who continue toseek a place in the city to live and perform their craft."

The developer, SoCo Lofts LLC, a joint venture of New BostonVentures II LLC and Peter Georgantas/PEG Properties, is modelingthis $5-million project after its Dover Lofts project on EastBerkeley Street in the South End. That project is a 16-unitresidential building, which includes two artist live/work andretail spaces. The developer says it sought to include artist spacein the SoCo Lofts project after receiving tremendous response fromartists looking to acquire one of the units in Dover Lofts.

The BRA launched the Artist Space Initiative in February 2002 tocreate more affordable housing for artists in the city. Theinitiative assessed the requirements of 2,000 artists and theirhousing needs and the inclusion of artist live/work space in thisproject and others throughout the city is a result of it. Thedeveloper is anticipating a January 2005 groundbreaking.