A public meeting was held last night by the BRA with the developers and the community. There was strong community opposition to the two development projects of Lincoln Properties and Archon. This was due to the fact that the projects had hardly changed from their first presentations last March, as well as in the fact that there was a sentiment expressed that there is so little the developers are offering the community. The City asked the developers to bind together to create the relocations of artists, offering two-year leases, and the developers provided the space and the build-out costs. In exchange, their projects most likely will go forward, with variances granted  allowing them to add additional rooftop stories, infill lots, and reap substantial profit.

Studio Soto has made its case to the City and developers to be included in the relocation plans. Thanks to you and to the overwhelming response to the petition, we will be part of the relocation to 319 A Street rear, as long as there is space for us that does not supersede or supplant the relocating artists. There were 227 signatures on the petition and we want to thank all of you for your support. We know that you made a difference for us.

There are still two meetings of approval for the project at the BRA Board meeting this Thursday at 3pm, and at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting yet to be scheduled later this month. To put this project in proper context would take at least the retracing of the past four years since Archon bought 17 buildings in the neighborhood. In the broader scheme the artists community has lost 300 hundred artists in the past ten years of the thirty that artists have been here. So Studio Soto remains waiting, along with 40 other artists willing to relocate their studios for two years. Decisions will be coming soon. Let's hope that if were we get a space we will be active and visible again, and continue working with those in the City, community and with developers who do have our long-term interests in mind. For a reporter's view of last night's meeting, here's an article from today's Boston Herald.