Frequently Asked Questions

What is Green Construction?


NNWAC incorporates energy efficient construction to limit future utility expenses. With grant support from State of Illinois, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and Commonwealth Edison, we will install R43 insulation in the roof, high energy efficient furnaces, closed combustion water heater, double glazed windows, fluorescent light fixtures in common area and low flow shower heads. Paul Knight, an Architect with Domus Plus advised our development team with energy saving specifications. The staff at Center for Neighborhood Technology www.cnt.org is also assisting our Green Committee with additional strategies for sustainable urban living. Plans include a roof deck garden, greenhouse and solar energy.

What is Limited Equity?

The Acme Artists Community www.acmeartists.org offers affordable housing to artists with the intention that units remain affordable for the next 99 years. Our purpose is to protect the property from soaring values and speculation. The Acme bylaws give the condo association first right to purchase units for resale. The repurchase price is the original price, plus actual improvements made by the owner not to exceed $30,000 and increased value tied to CPI for housing costs in the Chicago Metro area or 4%. Examples of limited equity are demonstrated in senior housing in Wilmette, and for affordable housing in San Francisco and Aspen. Check out Chris Carlsson (ccarlsson@shapingsf.org) an artist, writer, publisher, editor, videographer and community organizer who recently published an article in response to the real estate crisis in San Francisco.

Acme is a condominium; what makes it a cooperative?

Profit motives destroy existing communities and displace renters. Artists are dogged by stereotypes of starving, gypsies who chose to be poor. NNWAC needed to eliminate the middle man and influence policy makers and finance directly, in order to achieve affordable housing suited to our needs as working artists.


Consensus decision making is at the heart and soul of the Acme Artists Community, and is based on our common interests, our desire to build a sustainable community. The members of Acme actively engage in the development process. We researched cohousing models to develop group dynamics that support democratic control. We received training from the Chicago Mutual Housing to clearly outline our values and to define a decision making process. The Acme Artists Community is democratic, voluntary, nonprofit organized as a business that manages its investment with a clear understanding of our strengths and value to the larger neighborhood.

 

Why does affordable housing take so long in development?

 

Chicago is progressive and more creative than most when it comes to affordable housing, but policy makers believed that artists chose to be poor. It took the direct influence of Mayor Daley and Julia Stasch, then Commissioner of Housing to change policy. Zoning requirements challenged two law firms and took two years to accomplish even with full support of our neighbors and Alderman Ocasio. Our most influential investor, the Chicago Community Loan Fund didn’t even exist when we initiated the development process in 1992. The City of Chicago needed to write a new ordinance for condominium buyers assistance program and the redevelopment agreement took two years to finalize details. The Acme Artists Community is a trailblazing endeavor demonstrating a model for the 30,000 artists who call Chicago home. Let’s hope the next artist housing project doesn’t take five years to develop.

Why is the cooperative model significant for artists and their work?

 

Creative thinking is a valued asset in a technology driven economy. Artists approach their work with passion; tend to be long on ideas, and short on organization. The artists’ studio can be isolating; purposefully, in order to engage in research and inquiry. Artists need the synergy of other artists as informed colleagues to evaluate their work before we engage public audiences. Artists need access to tools, equipment and technology. Artists also need administrative support services as well as facilities to produce. Where do individual artists go for marketing and distribution channels, or capital for expansion? Freelance workers need to negotiate better contracts, to afford health insurance and retirement plans.


A cooperative business structure can track commercial success, assist in market research, leverage constituent strengths and resources and encourage group discount purchase of services. A marketing cooperative could help artists get better prices for creative services, reach broader markets, increase the value of their services, gain more control over marketing or save money for supplies, support services, and reduce costs.

 

 

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