About The Sunny Arms
The Sunny Arms Artist Cooperative is an artist live/work building, located in a renovated factory near the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Built in 1907, the 35,000-square-foot, 5-story building originally housed the Washington Shoe Company, which was founded in 1891 to produce rugged boots for the Alaska Gold Rush.
Renovation of the building began in February 1989, using Seattle building and zoning codes that allowed for artists’ live/work spaces in industrial zones. Working closely with the project architect, construction manager, and many subcontractors, the founding artists were able to bring the building up to commercial, residential, and industrial code by September of 1989. Artists then completed the construction of their individual studios. The founders, lead by Karen Guzak as project manager, included Cappy Thompson, Johnathan Stevens, Lezlie Jane, Maru Jolar, Judy and Jerry Gilbert, Jonnie Anthony, and Gary Nesvig.
As the first artist owned live/work building in Seattle, the Sunny Arms offered a unique model for other cooperatives. Financing was provided by the seller, because banks were skeptical of the cooperative form of ownership and the unusual uses of space — concepts that did not meet standard development criteria. The corporate documents and house rules were developed during weekly meetings with the Sunny Arms lawyer and the founding artists, using Brickbottom, a Boston artists’ cooperative, as a model.
In 1991, the Sunny Arms was awarded the Seattle Design Commission’s "Housing Designs That Work" award, for its contribution to the community and as a working model for future projects.
Ranging in size from 1,400 to 3,000 square feet, the 18 studios are occupied by artists who work in many disciplines. Each studio has 12-foot-high ceilings, old-growth timber posts and beams, fir floors, and large industrial windows. There is a shared rooftop deck and garden beds at street level.
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Renovation of the building began in February 1989, using Seattle building and zoning codes that allowed for artists’ live/work spaces in industrial zones. Working closely with the project architect, construction manager, and many subcontractors, the founding artists were able to bring the building up to commercial, residential, and industrial code by September of 1989. Artists then completed the construction of their individual studios. The founders, lead by Karen Guzak as project manager, included Cappy Thompson, Johnathan Stevens, Lezlie Jane, Maru Jolar, Judy and Jerry Gilbert, Jonnie Anthony, and Gary Nesvig.
As the first artist owned live/work building in Seattle, the Sunny Arms offered a unique model for other cooperatives. Financing was provided by the seller, because banks were skeptical of the cooperative form of ownership and the unusual uses of space — concepts that did not meet standard development criteria. The corporate documents and house rules were developed during weekly meetings with the Sunny Arms lawyer and the founding artists, using Brickbottom, a Boston artists’ cooperative, as a model.
In 1991, the Sunny Arms was awarded the Seattle Design Commission’s "Housing Designs That Work" award, for its contribution to the community and as a working model for future projects.
Ranging in size from 1,400 to 3,000 square feet, the 18 studios are occupied by artists who work in many disciplines. Each studio has 12-foot-high ceilings, old-growth timber posts and beams, fir floors, and large industrial windows. There is a shared rooftop deck and garden beds at street level.
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