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Arts & Entertainment

Lottery Determines Order for Artist Community

A tour of the under construction building was held before the lottery at the Patchogue Theatre.

A  held to select the first residents of the  was held in Patchogue Wednesday, and some chosen could be in their new homes early next year.

A total of 73 applicants applied and were ranked in order of consideration at the lottery. Those selected will next go through a process to verify income levels and eligibility as an artist. Artists in Suffolk County were given first preference for housing units, followed by artists living outside Suffolk County and then non-artists. The first 45 qualifying applicants will be able to move into their new home by January or February 2011.

Phyllis Kaye Waldo, 51, a 21-year Patchogue resident and performing artist who was the 14th person selected in the lottery, said she has been struggling to fit all her creative pursuits into a cramped apartment for the past 13 years.

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"It will be easier to work on some of the tactile things, and have people over to brainstorm in a larger, more open space," she said.

Also selected is pottery-maker Lisa DiStefano, 27 of Smithtown. "It's great for all of us... to spread our talent and skills to the community here and on Long Island, and let people know that artists are present here. We could make this a better place," DiStefano said.

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Prior the lottery, Artspace Project Manager Shawn McLearen led a tour of the under-construction building showcasing its ground floor, where studio units that will have the look and feel of storefronts will be located. Trees, lighting and a drop-off curb will be put in place in front of the building.  

"Ideally there will be tables and chairs set up outside so people can congregate and do some work," he said. "It will be a really beautiful area that brings people together."

Program partnerships with the  will be a key component to the success of Artspace. "We hope to have arts friendly businesses in the building," McLearen said.

Gina Pellettieri, director of technical assistance for the Housing Partnership said, "It's really going to make it trendy, and make Main Street really pop.  It will bring a lot of young people."

Pellettieri credited Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri for bringing people in to make Artspace a reality. "I think it's really his vision to connect everything," she said.

"Within this diversity we open our doors to all, and give people a reason to come to Patchogue," Pontieri said. "It's about economic development, change in the community and moving forward."

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