Contact: James Montgomery – Owner of 412 S. Baldwin Street
608-515-8509
Baldwin Street Studio Embracing European Style of Shared Spaces
Madison, WI) Shared space is an emerging idea to urban development and design. Spreading widely through Europe, this idea has faced criticism in the United States based on cultural differences and the pride U.S. citizens have in property ownership.
James Montgomery, Owner of the Baldwin Street Studio, has embraced uncertainty in his attempts to bring the idea of shared spaces to Madison’s East Side. The Baldwin Street Studio, located right off of Williamson Street, is a beautiful, large refurbished space with fantastic natural lighting and stained-glass windows original to when it was built in 1907.
The studio has three four-hour rental slots available throughout every day of the week, and already has tenants enjoying the space that can be easily converted from a yoga studio, to a classroom setting, to a dining hall.
“After explaining the idea of a shared space, I sometimes hit a brick wall with potential tenants. In the United States we are taught the importance of the “mine,” and not so much the importance of the “ours.” However, I am excited to see how the Williamson Street community will embrace this progressive idea in the weeks, months, and years to come,” said James.
The success of shared space relies on not just the capabilities of the owner, but the tenants who are a part of this shared space community.
“There is no option for a variety of tenants to share space in this neighborhood, and I look forward to growing our already amazing pool of diverse people and organizations using the space,” Said James.
