Artists drawing on developers' vision for projects in Leeds

ESA directors Jon Wakeman, Nicola Greenan and Karen Watson with George Haddo and Sam Lawson Johnston from LJ Real Estate

Plans for the future of a historic building fronting one of the busiest streets in Leeds have been unveiled by its new owners.

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LJ Real Estate, a London based property development firm, has taken over 34 to 39 Boar Lane and already passers by will have spotted changes taking place.

Notably Arkwright’s Tool Emporium has moved out and East Street Arts has moved in.

This is the lynch pin in a development with a difference which, while creating investment and business returns, also wants tocreate social and art opportunities.

Sam Lawson Johnston, one of the three founders of LJ Real Estate said: “We are not a typical landlord that walks in and then disappears. We are trying to create an interesting environment within the buildings.”

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The firm spent three years looking for the right building in Leeds to come along and wasted no time in snapping it up.

The top five floors are going to be rented out for commercial, business or offices use while the ground floor will be a hub for the community working within the building.

Long term plans will see a cafe, bar or restaurant take the space but in the interim LJ has offered the space to East Street Arts to house five art studio pods for six months so upcoming local artists can display their work.

The new space in unveiled to the public.

Nicola Greenan, external relations director of East Street said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to have a prime city centre location for artists, right next to the train station.

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“This is something which is typically difficult to come by and such a brilliant opportunity for some amazing projects.

“We first met LJ Real Estate about three years ago and have had plans to collaborate since then. As soon as they secured the building on Boar Lane, they got in touch and we’ve taken it from there.”

Since opening at the end of April the space has already been used for other projects including the Leeds International Festival, a ‘Pay as You Feel ‘supermarket with the Real Junk Food Project and a fine dining event for Leeds Indie Food cooking up food deemed for landfill.

And it is this type of collaboration that appeals to the founders of LJ just as much as the commercial opportunity.

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Mr Lawson Johnston said: “The long term plan is we are refurbishing the building from the top down and will leave the ground floor space empty for at least six months. But that can be such a waste so where we can we find a creative way to fill it short term so this is a great partnership for us.”

But, when the Americanos come in, it doesn’t necessarily mean the artists are out.

LJ Real Estate wants to keep together the community it is creating and given the appeal of Leeds for its economy, population, size and creative opportunities it is likely it will look for another investment in the city where the artists will be moved to.

Mr Lawson Johnston added: “We believe we can make a positive social and environmental impact.

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“That is not general wash - we really believe that and that in each city we can create communities of businesses and people in our buildings that help solve issues in that city and help people get back on their feet.”

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