Artists were sold on the 'top-of-the-line,' affordable studio space. Now they face a surprise eviction

Artists who work out of an affordable studio space in central Hamilton say they have less than two weeks left before they're forced to vacate the premises when they thought they had until next year.

The three-storey building on 29 Harriet St. was owned by the real estate management firm Forge & Foster. The building was being leased to Centre[3], a non-profit arts organization, in partnership with Aeon Studio Group, to be subleased as affordable studio spaces for artists in the city.

The studio spacesopened in July 2023 with Centre[3]touting it as a "top-of-the-line venue ... at an affordable price" and a way to support "artists at every stage of their career."

One of the artists renting a studio in the building is Melanie Cheung, who has been renting thespace about200 square feet with large windows and tall ceilings for around $500 per month.

"I was so happy to be able to have this space," she said. "It's like a basically a dream art studio for anybody who is an artist."

Forge & Foster appears to be selling off a number of theirproperties, including at 211 York Rd. in Dundas, Ont., and72 James St. in downtown Hamilton. The latter propertywent into receivership earlier this year, according to court documents.

Cheung and other artists were told by Centre[3] in late Aprilthey had until February 2025 to leave the Harriet Street studio, according to emails seen by CBC Hamilton. Centre[3] said thebuilding was repossessed by the lender and sold to a new buyer.

But more recently, on July 26,they were told in another email they're now required to leave by Aug.15.

CBC contacted Forge & Foster for commentbut did not receive a response.

As an abstract painter, Cheung said having access to bigger floor space to work on in the studio is "crucial" to her work. If she can't find an alternative studio space, she is planning to move all her work home.

"We all had summer plans and things, so now with this short notice we have toschedule a move with all of our equipment," she said. "It's going to be a bit of a struggle."

Matthew Gibson, the lawyer representing BFT Mortgage Investment Corp, which repossessed the building according to a document sent to the Cheungby Centre[3], said he did not have instructions to comment on thematter.

Yvonne Felix, who became the executive director of Centre[3] earlier this month, said she understands how the short notice to leave the studio was "shocking" to the artists still in the building. She said the organization is trying to work with the tenants and the real estate firm that sold the building to find amutually agreeable solution.

"The best outcome is that the community doesn't feel like it's being pushed out and that the seller feels that...they're hearing what community is telling them," she said.

Felix said she doesn't know who the new buyer of the building is.

Rent for the studios in the Harriet Street building ranged from $500 per month for a 200-square-foot studio to $800 per month for a 600-square-foot studio, said Cheung.

Cheung said she doesn't know of any other dedicated art studios on the west side of the city and that other commercial spaces available for leasing are likely to cost twice as much. The east end's Cotton Factory is comparable, she added, but often has longer-term leases.

Cheung said she's concerned about the message recent eventssendto artists working in Hamilton and how the city will be able toattract new artistswhen resources are limited.

"The promise of something like this felt so exciting...But then for it to be cancelled it justvery disappointing," she said.

Cameron Kroetsch, councillor for Ward 2, said he has been in contact with the artists still renting space in the building. He said he shares the concerns Cheung has about the need for affordable spaces artists and the importance of supporting the arts community in the city.

"It's really disappointing to hear that not only are these spaces going to be gone, but that people are being asked to get out of there immediately," he said.

Kroetsch said there isn't a lot the city could do as the building is owned by a private company. He's looking into finding them another space to work.

"I'm hopeful that they'll be a solution here and we can find some affordable spots for these folks," he said.