THINKEast project melds affordable housing with creative spirit
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Surrounded by the faint whispers of Mother Nature, 25 acres on Jain Lane remain undeveloped, but have been zoned for the ThinkEAST creative district.
It's not your typical mixed use development--plans for the 300,000 square foot affordable living and working space are geared toward artists and innovators.
Daniel Llanes and the Govalle\Johnston Terrace Neighborhood helped create what he says is a “win-win” situation. Not only will ThinkEAST preserve affordability, but 40 percent of the development will be green space.
"We together will plan our own future, instead of city hall planning our future, that's the one percent, we're the 99 percent," Llanes said.
Robert Summers with the project says ThinkEAST partnered with the neighborhood associations as soon as they purchased the land.
"We hope to have as many as 200 affordable units for living and additional studio spaces and commercial spaces for again people in the creative industries," he said.
ThinkEAST hopes to start construction in 2013, and have the affordable units ready the following year.
The city council will see the official plans for the project at next week's meeting.