Elgin commits to artist co-op

Elgin leaders brushed another stroke Wednesday on their plan to create a creative cornucopia in the downtown area.

The city council gave the nod to the pact with a Minneapolis-based arts group to explore creating a co-op for struggling artists, studio space and other amenities.

"It's a good project," said Councilman David Kaptain.

The 29-year-old Artspace uses federal, state and local grants to convert old buildings into lofts and apartments for struggling artists.

It has 23 projects in 14 states, and no two are alike. Many have retail or gallery space on the ground floor.

The group does not begin a project until it has full funding, so the absolute earliest it could finish in Elgin is late 2011.

An artist must have a demonstrated body of work and make a fraction of the Kane County median income for a family of four - about $31,680 a year - to qualify for an apartment.

Artspace projects have a minimum of 25 apartments and officials point to the synergy created by shows, exhibits and foot traffic to transform neighborhoods and stimulate areas.

Although the agreement is for up to $750,000, Elgin City Manager Femi Folarin said the city is committed now to $150,000 for a feasibility study.

If the project won't work, the money stops. But if it does, the city is prepared to move forward, he said.

"If it's still as promising as it is now, we'll go on to phase two in 2009," Folarin said.

If artist interest is any indication, next year could be a busy one.

Artspace officials in March visited the city, pressed flesh with community leaders, toured possible locations and held a forum in which more than 130 people attended - an Artspace record.

Artspace officials don't have a site picked out. The project could be new construction, rehabbing an old building or a combination of both.

To help plan the project, artists have been asked to complete a survey at www.ArtspaceElgin.org between now and Sept. 18.

Project: City requests artists fill out Internet survey