@jast is correct, this is not a suggestion that we move the DMS to Deep Ellum. The Continental Gin Building is 100% full anyways, they have no space for us. I am suggesting that they would be a good partner to allow us to get into a much larger building building than we could on our own. This thread is meant to start a discussion on the two groups potentially working together when the DMS and/or the CGB is finally forced to move out of our current location due to space limitations.
@ESmith & @John_Marlow asked about the business model of renting studio space being viable, and have questions on the management of such an endeavor. I’ll try to give some info that should answer some of those questions below.
The CGB is over 60,000 square feet with approx. 50 studio spaces, is occupied by 60+ artists (Some of the larger studios are shared spaces), and there is a waiting list of over 300 people who want to move in. People have moved to Dallas from across the USA once they have secured a studio space in the CGB. There is a management team already in place with decades of experience running the existing facilities and community, and dealing with the city.
There is a pretty solid proven demand for private, small scale (sub 2000 square ft) workshop/studio space in the Dallas area just from the fact of the 300 person long waiting list to get in to the CGB. It has been successfully operated as a business for 32 years, and the only reason it is looking to potentially move is due to the owners of the building being an investment company looking to take advantage of the gentrification of Deep Ellum, not the failure of the business model.
