Image via Google Maps

The arts continue to blossom in St. Pete. Mark Aeling, president of the Warehouse Arts District Association recently signed a contract for the purchase of the Ace Recycling Compound. The compound, located at the corner of 22nd St. S. and 5th Ave. S., covers 50,000 square feet of space.

Aeling's, along with the Warehouse Arts District Association, ultimate goal is to renovate the 6 warehouses and office buildings on the property. These preliminary plans are dependent upon the association raising $350,000 by November 1st.

The site will be called the Warehouse Arts Enclave. This interactive community is designed to integrate the arts community with the St. Pete public. The enclave will feature incubator style setup which will allow painters, photographers, writers, sculptors and musicians to collaborate, inspire, interact and engage with one another in an atmosphere created for their artistic development.

20,000 square feet of space will be built out into affordable studio space for district artists. Speculative concepts for the enclave also being tossed around call for the development of offices, class rooms, a large gallery/exhibit space, a foundry, a recording studio, rehearsal space and even a micro-brew pub.

*Photo via Warehouse Arts

Some inspired ideas also in the mix involve the controversial Pinellas Trail. While the infrared cameras soon to line the trail provide a kind of secure yet Orwellian energy, the Warehouse Arts Association simply wants to make it look beautiful. The trail runs adjacent to the compound, to capitalize Aeling and crew want to turn it into the "Arts Gateway of St. Pete." The gateway would be decorated with vibrant murals and provide trail access from the compound to neighboring arts centers Duncan McClellan Glass and the Morean Center for Clay.

*Photo via Warehouse Arts

If you're interested in supporting the arts and want to learn a bit more about donating to the enclave email info@whereartismade.com