Arts group to purchase St. Pete warehouse for enclave

ST. PETERSBURG — The Warehouse Arts District Association has signed a contract to purchase the former Ace Recycling compound to create what it is calling the Warehouse Arts Enclave.

The property contains more than 50,000 square feet of commercial space and is located at the corner of 22nd St. S. and Fifth Ave. S. The association wants to renovate the six warehouses and office buildings on the property to be used by artists. It is working to raise $350,000 by Nov. 1.

Initially, the arts nonprofit wants 20,000 square feet to be built out into air-conditioned, affordable studio space for Warehouse Arts District artists, plus other larger spaces will be created for metal workers, sculptors and other mixed media artists.

The Warehouse Arts District Association also has tentative plans to create offices, classrooms, a large gallery space, a foundry, recording studio and rehearsal space and a possible micro-brew pub.

“The development of the Warehouse Arts Enclave will ensure that there is affordable studio space for artists in St. Petersburg as the city continues to develop,” Mark Aeling, the Warehouse Arts District Association president, says in a press release.

The Warehouse Arts District Association is currently in talks with the city of St. Petersburg ways to gathering funds for enclave.