Artists speak out to keep affordable studio spaces in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The community of Easthampton came together Thursday night to support nearly 80 artists and creative small businesses facing a threat to keep their workspaces affordable.

These artists rely on their studio space, located at one Cottage Street, solely for their income.
Starting September 1st, they face an increase of 25 to 125 percent in their rent, a flat rate of $15 per square foot.

Several Tenants formed the Cottage Street Tenants Association and contacted Riverside Industries to discuss alternatives. But they have not received a response, leading the city council to adopt a resolution in support of their workspaces on June 25th.

Many of the artists tell 22News, that they are worried they won’t be able to remain in business.

“For some people, it’s doubling their rent. One tenant who has a large space is going $25,000 a year to $50,000 a year,” said Photographer and member of Cottage Street Tenants Association, Ellen Koteen. “And they just can’t afford that. And many of us will have to move out.”

“Many of us teach there. We hold workshops. For many of us, it’s a primary source of income. And it’s very important to us,” added Fine art printmaker, Cottage Street Tenants Association member, Matthew Simons.

City Councilor At-large, Brad Riley addressed the situation in a letter on June 26th. His letter read,

“First, with respect to the organization of Riverside Industries, I want to be crystal clear… their mission to help people with developmental and intellectual disabilities gain meaningful work and professional development is admirable. My critiques have absolutely nothing to do with their programming or people with disabilities. What I take issue with, are the President and Board’s decisions as landlords of the Cottage Street Studios around what many think is an issue of fairness, and what I think risks the delicate economic balance in Easthampton.

I fully recognize this is an issue of a business’s need to take care of its finances, but there are dozens of business owners who attended tonight who also need to take care of their finances. Is the reason they don’t feel required to meet them halfway because they hold all the power? That’s what it feels like, and it doesn’t sit well with me. Holding absolute power should be a humble undertaking that empathizes with the powerless and recognizes their needs to be heard. There also felt like a theme tonight of using the vulnerability of people with disabilities to discredit artists. To be pro-artist is not anti-disability, and to be pro-disability is not anti-artist. Don’t put two groups of good people against each other for your own gain. How incredibly harmful!

To me, a three-to-five-month lead time where rents will increase to the magnitude they are set to increase by, places tenants’ businesses in a precarious situation that doesn’t give them much time to build the rent increases into their business model. I want to know why there is no opportunity for collaboration or incremental increases to help these business owners stay afloat. A refusal to collaborate forces them to choose between probable financial bankruptey or eviction. Neither situation seems fair.

I’m also worried that this could have a chilling effect on our local economy. I often tell people this wonderful story of how the Easthampton economy has come alive over the last 10 years or so and it’s anchored by local artists, cannabis, and a vibrant restaurant industry. The three industries create a synergy that allows all three to thrive stronger together than if were they stand-alone industries. All our small businesses benefit from this synergy.

I fear that a decision to force rent increases to go into effect in the magnitude they are planned and the short amount of time before it occurs can unnecessarily jeopardize our entire economy.I also fear that a bullish attempt that harms our local artists can hurt the reputation of Riverside Industries and make filling vacant spaces more difficult. How they handled themselves timat in the public eye determines how likely small business owners are to rent from them in the future.

Since the Riverside Industry folks have left, I ask the rhetorical question why? Why are they pushing forward with a decision that feels so anti-Fiasthampton when their entire business model is pro-Easthampton? Why haven’t they asked for help to move forward with a plan that mode everyone’s business needs and protects the economy? The Easthampton I know would embrace the dialogue with open arms and help everyone find common ground.”

City Councilor At-large, Brad Riley

Tenants have yet to receive their leases and have until August 1st to determine whether they are staying or not. But, are hoping to come up with a plan that meets both Riverside Industries and their financial needs before then. They will be asking Riverside Industries to do a Commercial Real Estate analysis.

Two artists have already moved out to other buildings.

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