(2004-10-11) Edge City Boho Space

Spaces abandoned by Big Retail and other institutions are being re-used in interesting ways (Urban Design). Joel Garreau wrote about this idea in 1995. Somebody had to be the first to look at an abandoned New England textile mill and realize it would make a great condominium. Somebody had to be the first to look at an old So Ho sweatshop and realize it would make a great artists loft. Just so, in the near future, somebody realizes what a great space an old Kmart is - 80,000 square feet with 16-foot ceilings and killer HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Then he or she realizes you can get them for nothing from the Resolution Trust Corporation - and the first edge-city Bohemian district is born. First the artists break the space into lavish 5,000-square-foot sculptors studios. Then they punch skylights into the roof to let natural light into the interior. Then they do the sensible thing and start living there illegally. (Brown Field)