Thursday, April 28, 2022

Pangea Properties Welcomes Opening of ‘Artists on the 9’ Art Space in Chicago’s South Side Chatham Neighborhood

 Nedra Sims Fears
 

 

 CHICAGO, IL — Chicago-based Pangea Properties (Pangea), through its nonprofit 501(c)(3) community service arm, Pangea Cares, has partnered with The Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI) to launch Artists on the 9, an art gallery and workspace in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.

 

Representatives from Pangea and GCI were joined by city and state officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 26.

 

Located in a Pangea-owned property at 735 E. 79th Street in Chicago, Artists on the 9 is one component of a broader effort to develop the Mahalia Jackson Cultural District.


Dr. Betty Jean Howard

This initiative aims to reclaim vacant storefronts along 79th Street and convert them to fully functional workspaces and galleries for artists in the Chatham area.

 

“Our goals at Pangea include creating and maintaining quality housing for residents of underserved communities and working with local organizations to improve those neighborhoods for our residents,” said Derek Reich, chief operating officer of Pangea Properties.


 “It’s so rewarding for Pangea to be a contributor in the creation of this artists’ space, which can bring new opportunities for connection, personal growth, outreach and education to our residents and the greater Chatham neighborhood.”


 Derek Reich

The 1,400-square-foot storefront features three private workspaces, a gallery, an exhibition room and a kitchen.


Artists on the 9 will also be open to the community for gatherings and events, providing exposure for the artists’ work.

 

Pangea’s construction arm, Motus Construction, served as the construction contractor for the project and fully rehabilitated the formerly vacant space.

 

Artists on the 9 is a unique venture in the underserved Chatham neighborhood. The intent of the space and the ambitious Mahalia Jackson Cultural District initiative is to stimulate economic and social transformation in the area, particularly along the historic 79th St. corridor.


Artists on the 9, an art gallery
and workspace 
at 735 East 79th Street 
in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.

The space offers a haven for area artists to work and display their art, while simultaneously providing Chatham residents with a gathering space and exposing them to the artists’ work.

 

“Greater Chatham Initiative is thrilled to offer a makerspace for local artisans,” said Nedra Sims Fears, executive director of Greater Chatham Initiative.

 

“Their art provides an injection of beauty, inspiration and cultural representation into the community that is unmatched. We are excited to see the results.”


 Rep. Bobby Rush

The Artists on the 9 project was developed in honor of Dr. Betty Howard, a special education teacher at Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy.

 

 Dr. Howard was a notable leader in the community and a beloved educator who was fatally shot in 2014 while working at her second job at a real estate office formerly located in the space. 


“From pain and suffering comes community and creativity,” said Rep. Bobby Rush, speaking about the history of the area and hope for the future at the opening of the artists’ space. “This is indeed a renaissance moment.”



Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th)

“I think that this is going to be the impetus … to make sure that we have cultural events and cultural identity here on 79th Street and all throughout the ward and the South Side of Chicago,” said Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th). 


“This is going to be a crime fighting initiative … because once people know more about themselves and become proud of who they are, violence decreases naturally.”


About Pangea Properties:

 

Pangea Properties is a Chicago-based private real estate investment trust founded in 2008 by Al Goldstein to provide quality, affordable housing.


Al Goldstein

Pangea Properties acquires value-add apartment buildings and renovates them as workforce housing, investing almost $500 million in 12 years to acquire and rehabilitate almost 13,000 units in Chicago, Indianapolis and Baltimore.

 

About The Greater Chatham Initiative:

 

The Greater Chatham Initiative is an organization charged with developing and driving the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the Chatham, Auburn Gresham, Avalon Park and Greater Grand Crossing neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side.


CONTACTS:


Matt Baker, mbaker@taylorjohnson.com

 (312) 267-4512

 

Gretchen Muller, gmuller@taylorjohnson.com

(312) 267-4511

 

Once Listed for $70 Million, England’s Pop King Robbie Williams Sells His Home To Canadian-born rap musical star Aubrey Drake Graham for $75 Million, then Buys Fannie Brice Mansion in California for $49.5 Million

Robbie Williams and wife Ayda Field


 HOLMBY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CA -- After splitting from the popular British boy band, Take That, Robbie Williams has become one of the all-time, best-selling British singer-songwriters, selling over 75 million records worldwide. 

 He also set a world record by selling 1.6 million concert tickets in just one day, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.


Fannie Brice

As most of the mega-wealthy have been doing, Williams and his American-actress wife, Ayda Field, have been sinking their fortune of approximately $300 million into some of the most glamorous real estate on the planet.

 

  The Faring Estate, their most recent purchase, was the former home of Fannie Brice, the original Funny Girl. 




Totally updated, and at one time listed as high as $70 million, Williams purchased the Holmby Hills home for $49.5 million.   

 The main house, with an attached and two separate guest houses, is found behind the double-gated entry, located on just under two private acres. 

 There is a circular motor court and a second gated motor court with a garage, which will accommodate 15 or more cars.

 



The two-story house has an impressive light-paneled foyer with a spiral staircase and inlaid wood floor.  It opens into a large-and-cheerful main living room with sunshine pouring through the large windows. 

 

Dental molding surrounds the ceiling and many Old World artisan touches are still evident. 




The formally paneled wide entry into the library currently shows its whimsical side with a large quirky piece of artwork hanging between the two entry doors.

 

The formal dining room will seat 12 comfortably and above its wainscotting is scenic wallpaper of trees over water. 

 

Encompassing 18,925 square feet, the compound has eight bedrooms and eleven baths. 



The luxurious primary suite in the main house has a fireplace in the sitting area and what every couple dreams of: elegant separate baths, his with a masculine vibe and hers much more feminine with its own salon hair station. 

 

 Additionally, there is a chef’s kitchen with breakfast nook, a book-lined study with views over the grounds and a comfortable family room with fireplace.




In addition to a spacious lawn for rambunctious children, everyone will enjoy the pool and pool house with its fitness center. 

 

A rousing game of tennis can be played on the pristine tennis court and for those who like to grow organic, there is a brick-paved, raised-bed, vegetable-and-flower garden, as pretty as it is functional. 





 There is also a long koi pond with tiny fountains along the sides where one can sit on a bench and enjoy quiet contemplation.


Former 18,925-SF Home of Comedien Fannie Brice


The Holmby Hills mansion isn’t the first U.S. home Williams has owned. After selling his last home to Drake in early 2022 for $75 million - almost $43 million more than he paid for it in 2015 - he has now captured one of LA’s most storied and lovely homes for his family of six.


CONTACT:

 

Genelle C. Brown
Content Manager, Media Division
TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
Phone:  336-459-3725
Twitter:  @toptenrealestat
Facebook.com/toptenrealestat
e

 

 Photo credit:  Courtesy of Compass

Sources:  TopTenRealEstateDeals.com   and www.compass.com
Video:  https://youtu.be/sej849v7TcA 
Video Credit Sean Evans, @evvo1991 https://www.backtothemovies.com/