A deserted, graffiti-laden Tremé school just got the a-okay from the City Planning Commission cats to go forward with Artspace's proposed artist live/work space renovation plans. The former Andrew J. Bell Middle School campus, abandoned since Hurricane Katrina, will get a $40M makeover. The result: 73 apartments for low-to-moderate income artists, office space, artist studios, a performance venue, and 45,000-square feet of green space with a 2015 completion date. The Orleans Parish School Board currently owns the buildings but will probably to transfer them over to the Housing Authority of New Orleans sometime next year. Artspace, a Minneapolis-based group of developers that's all about creating affordable housing for artists, will either buy or lease the space from HANO.
· Plan to convert former Tremé schoolhouse to artist apartments gets zoning approval [N.O. Advocate]
· Rickety Tremé school campus will be artist live/work spaces [Curbed NOLA]
· Artspace [official site]