Last night, I went to an event at the the Hyacinth Lofts (www.thehyacinthlofts.com/unitInfo.asp). David Perkowski, an innovative developer specializing in the adaptive re-use of urban buildings, created a highly unsual environment in an abandoned school building, even by the standards of artist live-work space. Perkowski had redeveloped the historic Tower Press Building for visual artists. He conceived of the Hyancinth Lofts as a live-work space specifically for filmmakers, media and performing artists. Many of the units have sound-proof booths for special sound recording, and the building is filled with other great media arts ammenities. Companies housed in the building include Flipline Studios (http://www.flipline.com/) and Authentic Films (http://www.authenticfilms.net/) and many other ‘creative class’ companies.

When Perkowski began, the city of Cleveland had not yet formulated Zoning rules that allowed for live-work space outside of traditional residential zones. Perkowski’s efforts with the Tower Press Building and Hyacinth led to progressive changes in the zoning laws and changed the paradigm of local elected officials about urban redevelopment. Today, largely to Perkowski’s efforts, Cleveland is far ahead of many comparably-sized cities in innovative urban adaptive re-use development.

Chris Carmody / Carmody & Company
www.christophercarmody.com