Artist Lofts in Lancaster CA

Lancaster Boulevard

photo by charlie essers

there is so much going on in downtown Lancaster! As I was telling someone about it today, I realized that it is a very impressive list!

-the Artist Lofts and Lofts Gallery of course. 21 units of affordable housing for artists with an onsite gallery that features resident work. The gallery changes exhibits monthly and has ongoing art events. 661 W Lancaster Blvd, for information call amanda 818.914.3707

photo by tom varden

-Vintages Wine Room in the Lofts Gallery. Vintages is opening a wine counter inside the gallery! They will be selling local wines at our events and keeping their own hours inside the gallery, as well as having some of their own special wine events.

photo by bryan crump

-40 more units of artist housing are under construction just off the Blvd at Date Ave. Arbor on Date will be for performing artists like actors, musicians, dancers, etc! Estimated completion date: September 2010. contact amanda to get on the list: 818.914.3707

rendering by psl architects

-The Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery is moving to a newly remodeled location right next door to the lofts! The new museum is currently in the design phase and will be adapting the old wells fargo bank building in new and exciting ways. The museum’s current home is on Sierra Highway and Lancaster Blvd, and they currently have a very exciting exhibit from 4 artists under 40 in the Antelope Valley.

-BEX Grill and Bar and the RoShamBo Lounge. One of the most exciting projects on the Blvd right now is the new restaurant! It is reusing the old S&S furniture warehouse on Lancaster Blvd and Elm. It will be over 10,000 square feet of restaurant, bar, lounge, and private banquet facilities. The interior and exterior design of the restaurant is going to be very cool and the menu is being perfected right now! I am especially excited about the desserts. It will be a wonderful place to have a nice dinner on the Blvd. 706 W Lancaster Blvd.

-in front of the restaurant will be a new Plaza. An outdoor place for people to gather with features like an outdoor bandstand, gorgeous mature trees, coffee kiosk, a cupcake bakery, and a newsstand.

-The Brooklyn Deli opened in September, featuring New York Kosher-style sandwiches and salads. Amazing sky high pastrami is their specialty!730 W Lancaster Blvd, 661.726.DELI

-a fixture on Lancaster Blvd is The Lemon Leaf Cafe. Maria Elena has been at this location for several years and has perfected her amazing gourmet Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.  Also the best lemon squares in the universe! 653 W Lancaster Blvd, 661.942.6500.

-the City of Lancaster has started work on American Heroes park, just north of Lancaster Blvd. From their facebook announcement: “The park will provide a variety of athletic and recreational facilities for residents to enjoy. Features will include a plaza in remembrance of the many American heroes for whom the park is named, complete with arbors and trellises. There will also be multipurpose athletic fields and playground equipment, in addition to basketball courts placed at the east and west ends of the park to optimize use by Sacred Heart Elementary School and Antelope Valley Adventist School.” Park is scheduled to be completed July 2010!

-The Western Hotel Museum was built around 1888 and is downtown Lancaster’s oldest surviving structure. As a hotel, it has gone through several names, including the Antelope Valley Hotel, the Gillwyn Hotel, and lastly, the Western Hotel (c. 1895). Preserved and saved by the Western Hotel Historical Society, the Western Hotel has been a City of Lancaster museum since 1989. The Western Hotel Museum is located in Lancaster, CA at 557 W. Lancaster Blvd. The museum is open the 2nd and 4th Friday and Saturday of each month. Admission is free.

-one of my favorite stores on the Blvd is Graphic Experience! They display local artists’ work and have great framing services. Chris is a joyful fun person, go see them for any framing needs! 624 W Lancaster Blvd, 661.945.1718

-The Lancaster Performing Arts Center! Our amazing venue for events ranging from the Vienna Boys Choir to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy! check their calendar for dates and times. 750 W Lancaster Blvd, 661.723.5950.

expansion

photo by tom varden

the expansion event was fun. it featured the works of resident artist nicole moan and other members of rampage artist collective. nicole makes beautiful ceramic corsets and other works in clay. bryan crump is a photographer that also bodypaints and rex campbell is a performance artist.

pictures from our flickr.

photo by tom varden

we also featured a taste of what’s to come: vintages wine counter in the lofts gallery! soon vintages will be a permanent fixture in our gallery! we are excited to partner with chantel kilmer, who will offer amazing wines including some from local wineries in the antelope valley.

upcoming events at the lofts gallery:

-holiday wine event with vintages

-january 9th: elizabeth caffey and more art show

the artist lofts on lancaster blvd

we have only a few units left. looking for visual artists that are interested in affordable 4 bedroom, 1600 sq ft live/work space, gallery privileges, and being a part of a vibrant renaissance on lancaster blvd.

do you want to live at arbor lofts?

call amanda 818.914.3707 or email amanda@qgre.com

lofts are open

our first residents are moving into the lofts! here are some shots of the unit interiors from a couple of weeks ago.

as always, more photos at our flickr

call amanda at 818.914.3707 for more info on leasing at the lofts.

what's the deal with the ARTIST LOFTS??

ARBOR LOFTS started as most artistic endeavors— a vision. InSite Development wanted to create a primary piece of the puzzle that will change the face of downtown Lancaster.

“artists are urban pioneers!” says InSite partner W A H.

The Lofts are now built and ready for talented visual artists to occupy them!

(photo by psl architects, the awesome designers and architects of arbor lofts)

The units are 1600 sf, 4 bedroom, 2 story, with an extra flexible space/studio, 2 full bathrooms, and a balcony. The units are equipped with 220V power, have aluminum windows with lots of natural light, stained concrete floors, and all new appliances.

Currently seeking ARTISTS (not hobbyists) to fill the project. Painters, sculptors, and other object-oriented visual artists are invited to apply to live/work in these units and utilize the onsite indoor/outdoor galleries. This is an amazing opportunity to develop and showcase your work.

Rents are based on income and units are available starting at $790 a month.

Tours are available, call or email AMANDA for more information: 818.914.3707 or amanda@qgre.com

more photos at our flickr

opening night

opening night was wildly successful! we had well over 500 people pass through our gallery and it was wonderful to be a part of celebrate downtown lancaster. we had amazing art on display, all from artists that are potential residents at the artist lofts.

the indoor gallery was amazing with sealed concrete floors, track lighting, a chandelier and led lighting, exposed block and smooth stucco walls.

the outdoor courtyard came together nicely with display cases, concrete benches, and artificial grass. in the display cases were ceramic and metal sculpture.

more photos can be found at our flickr.

lofts gallery- opening night

the gallery is coming along! our big opening event is next friday night, july 17th.

inside the gallery, the floor is being sealed today. on monday the plumbing finish will be set, the plaster wall will be finished, and the track lighting and chandelier will be hung.

in the courtyard, the concrete men are doing their thing. we hope to pour the concrete on tuesday or wednesday of next week.

more photos at our flickr

the artists have started arriving, we start hanging the show early next week.

if you have been curious about the lofts project, friday july 17th from 6-10pm would be a great time to check it out. there is also a celebrate downtown lancaster event going on concurrently, with a band playing, fire dancers, and a silent movie screening.