Last week we learned that the redevelopment projects of Archon on Melcher Street and Lincoln Properties on Summer St. will go before the BRA board on December 4th. Leading up to that, they have been given credit for offering relocation spaces currently in negotiation for the approximately 75 artists Archon proposes to displace, from three buildings to one. Lincoln Properties, for their part, is offering over half a million dollars in build-out costs, as their give-back to the community. So for these efforts the City is willing to hear their projects again, and more then likely grant them the variances they have sought to make their redevelopments very profitable, once again at the cost of the plan for the neighborhood and the preservation of the artists community. There is public meeting about these two projects on Monday, December first, 6:30 pm at 44 Thompson Place, in the first floor conference room.

It seems to Studio Soto that if Archon and Lincoln Properties are so involved in relocating all the artists now, then it should be time to include us as well. We are a part of the community, and are artist-run. We have also tried to negotiate with both developers over the past year.

Studio Soto is appealing to our community and subscriber's list to support our inclusion in the relocation negotiations. We have drawn up a petition that we are distributing electronically to our subscribers and by hand in the neighborhood. It is simple and reads as follows:

Petition for the Inclusion of Studio Soto in Relocation Negotiations

I am signing this to support Studio Soto’s inclusion in the current relocation negotiations taking place between the City, Archon/Goldman, and Lincoln Properties. Studio Soto (artist-run) has been without a space for one year, and has attempted to negotiate with both of these developers.  As an artist-relocation instance in its own right, the matter of Studio Soto’s relocation should be included in and settled with these developers before their projects are approved.

If you would like to e-sign this petition, please copy the text, paste it into an email and send it to mail@studiosoto.com by Sunday, November 30th. Thank you !