Downtown Tucsonan

MAY 2004

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The Warehouse Issue

People & Places

Stephen A. Goldsmith

Stephen A. Goldsmith has been recently hired by the City of Tucson as a facilitator and expert to assist in the development of a new organizational structure to manage the Warehouse District. His credentials in transforming urban space, as well as his background as a sculptor, make him a welcome addition to the Warehouse District planning process.

Former Planning Director for Salt Lake City, Goldsmith was also the founder and President and CEO of Artspace in Salt Lake City, a non-profit organization which transformed old buildings and warehouses into affordable living and working space for artists and their families. He currently administers the Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship of the Enterprise Foundation, an organization dedicated to rebuilding low-income communities through affordable housing, and equal access to work and childcare.

Goldsmith recognizes the extensive work and care that has gone into the Warehouse District’s recent planning process and hopes he will bring something new to the table. “My goal is to support the master planning effort that has been so well executed by Corky Poster and others. One way I see I might be able to contribute is to help to reduce the fear of change, on everybody’s part, to act as a mediator, in terms of fear.”

Though his involvement is just beginning, the community can look forward to the optimistic energy of Goldsmith and his fresh perspective. “The opportunities that seem to exist in this area are extraordinary. Perhaps my experience in developing these kinds of neighborhoods and communities could put some light on these opportunities.”

—Jennifer Nichols

MUSE

“Remnants of the past, complete with historic soap scum” says a sign in one of the artist’s studios at The Muse Community Arts Center. It makes no sense, until you realize that this studio was once the shower room of a thriving YMCA. And artists can do something creative with anything!

Don’t be put off by the outward appearance of this edifice. Directly west of Fourth Avenue, the huge beige hulk of a building is camouflage for the color, vibrancy, activities and décor of the interior. Three floors of rambling corridors (including a basement where the old indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool lay empty) are host to 50 (filled) artist studios, 8 classrooms, a pottery school, three galleries, and a mid-size professional theater space. Roam about during an open studio tour and you’ll see indoor murals, visual, healing and performing artists, and life on life’s terms. Our current cast includes a well-known plein air painter, a renowned goddess mask maker, healers, sculptors, jewelers, fashion designers, arts therapists, painters, writers, actors and teachers. It goes without saying that passion rules the atmosphere!

The Muse is dedicated to exposing the community to a variety of wholesome arts experiences, education and community events. Each event or class is as unique as the group, individual or agency that is putting it on. For example, in Nations Hall Theater alone this season: The Day of the Dead Parade assembled, a ritual goddess theater troupe invoked goddesses, Southern Arizona Aids Foundation held its annual health expo, Desert Voices sang, the Simon Peter Play fund-raised, Spirit Familia jammed with world beat music, Mariachis performed, presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich showed up twice, stand-up comics made us laugh, and several independent film makers screened their films.

The near future will find The Muse updating its exterior, using color, design and landscape to beautify the neighborhood. It will continue to explore ways to keep the creative juices flowing, and use art to improve humanity!

6th Avenue & 6th Street Warehouses
Firestone & Bookman’s Buildings

The warehouses on the southeast and southwest corners of 6th and 6th were originally built in the 1930s. On the west side was Firestone Tires, which also sold gas, and the east side of 6th was Bookman’s Auto Parts. The buildings sat vacant and boarded up for over a decade. Between 1996-1998, Firestone Buildings, LLC (Ron Schwabe is a local partner who also owns Peach Properties) renovated the structures. Bookman’s is home to the second largest local landscape architecture firm - Wheat Scharf & Associates. It also houses Santa Theresa Tile Works’ production space, Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery, and Architecture West Collective.

Last June, Santa Theresa Tile Works opened a showroom in the Firestone gallery and this summer two more galleries are moving into the building.

Sisters Susan and Leslie Gamble own and run the tile company and their services have been utilized for downtown revitalization projects such as the Depot and the courthouse fountain.

“We are dedicated to downtown development,” Susan said regarding their location choice. “Because we think someday it will happen, and it won’t if people like us don’t come down here.”

—Jamie Manser

On the side of the Firestone building is a quote by John F. Kennedy that is as applicable today as it was 40 years ago: “To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation in all the processes and fulfillments of art – this is one of the fascinating challenges of the day.”

Astro Fab

The hourly trains are not the only things making noise in the Warehouse District. Step inside the building at 19 E. Toole Ave., and among the sawdust and wood shavings, you’ll hear the buzz of saws, the friction of sandpaper, and the hiss of compressed air.

Since about 1982, this building has been home to Astro Fab, a wood workers cooperative established to provide artists individual space with access to large machinery and common tools. With affordable rent space available, Astro Fab proves to be a valuable resource for the young novice who is interested in getting started in the industry. The facility also provides well-established woodworkers close proximity to downtown architects and developers and to McEwen’s Lumber Supply.

Bob Mick, who may be better known in the community as a custom bass and guitar maker, has been the master lease holder for more than half of Astro Fab’s life. In a tough industry where the work is job-to-job, Mick provides the space and even some of the tools to some 6 – 8 woodworkers who create custom furniture and cabinetry and do furniture repair and refinishing.

Though it often requires Mick to take on most of the of repairs of the building himself, former tenant Ben Schmitt of DaVinci Designs is grateful that Mick has been able to keep Astro Fab up and running. “Bob Mick’s generosity and tutelage allowed me to start my fledgling custom woodworking business by lending his experience and contacts to establish a foot–hold in the industry”, he says.

—Dave Olsen

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