Ground Floor Loans

CAP idea to create a program to rent ground-level space to artistic outlets at below-market rates. This is possible because 1) Downtown has a valuable arts sector 2) Downtown landlords struggle to find established retail tenants. CAP could work as an intermediary to connect artistic outfits to property owners. In the long term the goal would be to use a Community Land Trust or Purchase ground-floor units in condos to provide location security. An example is Spaceworks in NYC.

• Activates unused ground floors

• Increased sense of place and culture downtown

• Further increase downtown’s role as a center of arts

• Increase property values and retail-fitness