Artist Live/Work & Economic Development Strategies in Long Island City*

Cultural Planning & Creative PlacemakingNeighborhood Planning & Economic Development
Written By Cali Williams
 

CLIENT: NYCEDC
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ARTNERS: HR+A & Beyer, Blinder & Belle

SERVICES: Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation, Economic Development, Cultural Planning & Creative Placemaking
PROJECT TYPE: Public Art & Culture
LOCATION: Western Queens, NYC
START: 2017, END: 2019

 
 

As a senior leader at the NYCEDC, Cali and her teams were tasked with developing a set of strategies to support the innovation economy, tech and the housing and workspace needs of artists, freelancers, and makers in Long Island City, Queens. She helped convene community workshops, focus groups, and surveys.

Cali worked with an inter-agency team, including the Department of Cultural Affairs, to develop the Affordable Real Estate for Artists (AREA) Initiative. This initiative aims to create 1,500 units of affordable housing for artists and 500 units of artist workspace by 2025. The City supported this mandate with $30 million in capital funding for the fit-out of artist workspaces and the conversion of underutilized City-owned assets for select projects.

* This project was completed while Cali was employed at NYCEDC

 
Cali Williams
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