3-31-06
The Chicago Artists Housing
(and Theatre Space) Expo
Saturday, April 8th. One day solely dedicated to helping actors and artists become homeowners here in Chicago.
Insert drum roll…cue trumpets…
The third annual Creative Chicago Space and Housing Expo will present over 80 exhibitors, as well as workshops and seminars, offering resources and opportunities related to the living, working and presenting needs of artists and art organizations. The expo will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph St. Co-sponsored by the Chicago departments of Cultural Affairs and Housing, this one-of-kind expo will offer services, tools and comprehensive information on topics such as home ownership, affordable housing, studio safety, investment property, health insurance, rehearsal and shared space, city codes and services and much more. If that wasn’t exciting enough, admission is free!
“Whether they need living, working or presenting space, artists and arts organizations in every neighborhood of Chicago will find the help they need at this day-long event,” said Chicago Housing Commissioner John G. Markowski. Exhibitors from all areas of the home buying process will be on hand to answer any questions you might have and to give you the tools you need to take that next step, whether it’s just getting started or it’s finding a home that will fit your needs.
More About the Exhibitors
Few actors know that there are entire neighborhoods hoping to build or expand their creative contingent. According to Barbara Koenen of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, “Artists add so much to our city in so many different ways—beautification, education, entertainment, to name a few. Simply put, there is a wealth of great rewards that come when you have a place for artists in your community.” Sixteen Neighborhoods Seeking Creatives stations will be on site, highlighting opportunities for living, working and commercial spaces. These neighborhoods include: Bridgeport, Bronzeville, Englewood, Garfield Park, Greater North Ashburn, Gresham, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Little Village, Near Northwest (Bucktown, Wicker Park, East Village, Logan Square), Pilsen/Chinatown, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, South Chicago, Uptown, and West Loop. Who knew?
More About the Workshops
The resources made available to you during the Creative Chicago Space and Housing Expo are limitless. A special Ask the City services clinic from 1 to 3 p.m. provides an opportunity to work one-on-one with representatives from key city agencies, including the departments of Buildings, Business Affairs and Licensing, Construction and Permits, Housing, Planning and Development, Special Events and Zoning. Individuals and organizations can receive theatre license applications, occupancy permits, PPA or PAV applications, itinerant merchant and street musician’s permits, and information on street fairs, festivals and other events.
Yet the most exciting aspect of the Space and Housing Expo is the workshops. There will be 12 40-minute seminars specifically crafted for actors and artists yearning for affordable housing. Topics include: “Create Your Own Home Recording Studio,” “Opening a Theatre: First Steps,” and “Legalities of Home Ownership, Commercial and Live/Work Space,” which will feature William Rattner, head of insightful workshops are of course…free!
In closing, Lois Weisberg, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs commented, “A strong arts community is critically important to any city’s health and prosperity. The Expo is a fabulous opportunity to discover hidden gems of the creative industry, as well as network with other artists. There’s a lot to do, so we encourage artists to bring their friends!”
If you are at all interested in becoming a homeowner in the next year or two, please make it point to be at the Chicago Cultural Center for the Creative Chicago Space and Housing Expo on Saturday, April 8th. Barbara Koenen and everyone else behind this great event are genuinely passionate about providing affordable housing solutions for actors and artists here in Chicago, and they deserve your support. Also, I’ll be there representing West America Mortgage Company and I need someone I know to visit me. Did I mention the Expo is free?
For more information, including schedule and exhibitor updates, call 312/744-6630 or visit www.chicagoartistsresource.org.
Next month we will begin a two-part series on negotiating your real estate contract. You’ve scoured the entire Chicagoland area, or at least the areas you like, and you have finally found your new home. Congratulations on a job well done! Now we get to negotiate. The next two articles will shed some light on the process.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, even if you already are a homeowner, feel free to call or e-mail me anytime. As always, please send me any comments or suggestions about this article, and let me know if there are topics you would like to see discussed.
Mike McNamara has been an actor in Chicago for the past eight years, in theatre, commercials, television and film. Mike is also a Mortgage Consultant and Loan Originator with West America Mortgage Company. He can be reached anytime at 773/398-0021 or McNamara310@aol.com.