The other day I came upon an article in Newsweek that truly caught my interest.  The article was titled “The Creativity Crisis” and the headline read “For the first time reasearcg shows that American creativity is declining.  What went wrong – and how can we fix it.”  As I read the article it occured to me the writer’s statement was just not correct.  There is plenty of creativity today in America and from Americans, it’s just that past generation fails to recognize the new gereration’s creative contributions. 

Years ago creativity was defined by invention of mechanical products.  The the cotton gin, the telephone and the assembly line were regarded as creative feats, which they were.  Today, video games are more complex than ever, televison shows and feature films are less formulaic than in the past, and art expands far beyond the canvas.  Americans are constantly looking to break new ground and explore what has not been yet discovered.

While it has been asked, what changed creativity in America, there are a few areas to visit in our educational system.  From an early age children are asked to color within the lines and are graded for such.  The better grades go to those who stay within the lines.  But it is those who see no boundries that are expressing their creativity in another way. 

The article in Newsweek continued to focus on the educational system in our country as well, noting that with the packed curriculum there is very little time for creative classes.  Art and music departments are being cut and replaced with higher level math and English courses.  Our children are being educated, but only to fit into corporate America.

As I read on it was mentioned that a prime leadership requirement is creativity.  With all that is focused every day within our schools you would think we would be preserving the creative courses somehow.  But then again, why would we – the education system in our country has been designed to help children grow into adults who fit into society’s little box.  But leaders are born, not taught.  To bring America’s creativity back we just have to begin to accept those that do differently than we do and appreciate their efforts.

 Met-Romantic:: L.A. Metro :: Swoons Creative Angelenos

A recent move, at the end of a decade replants this seasoned Angeleno as a new resident of Lincoln Heights… Not unfamiliar with this area that’s a pocket of cultural diversity, this area also is home to many visual artists, and the hip canyon dwellers of Mount Washington. Where is this, “pocket”, you ask? Try Avenue 26 at Lacy Street :: Lacy Studio Lofts. Home to small businesses like Marketing and Branding, Design, Fashion, Film Production, Photography that make live work look like chic modes opperendo of the free world.

Knowing that the Metro is just down the street, is something that cannot be ignored- After spending 9 years of commuting up and down freeways and side routes (to work!)  but also across town to music venues, like the Wiltern, or the Hollywood Bowl, fighting for parking to no avail….the Metro Line is romancing us from the corner : I welcome it with open arms. Having only been a resident of Lacy for a few weeks – the holidays are here – and X is playing a Christmas show with Calexico at the Wiltern-Awesome! – A Band that is from Los Angeles, and has influenced hundreds since the 80′s…and BONUS! No driving and No parking : The Metro is just on the corner, sweet…..

So, because we could have an extra cocktail, we did, and we enjoyed our wait for the train that much more, but also the scenic journey: The Metro rolls up…we board,and as we roll west towards Union station where we transfer to the purple line that will take us to destination The Wiltern, we are happy to see the layout of our city as if we are on a monorail ride at Disneyland- but better, it was Chinatown! Seeing the city glitter passing over Chinatown with a birds eye view, I have to tell you, is quite cool.  And no driving mind you- Look Los Angeles, going across town no longer requires hands.

Not only can we travel to great music venues in a jiff, we can also get to view some of the hippest Art galleries, and Events, all happening downtown, such as…..”Live the Dream 2010″ > Jerico, the original artist bar,  is hosting an event this Thursday Jan 14th at 7pm, featuring the best of the best L.A. Downtown Artists, and will be featuring one of the Lacy Tenants, Emmeric Konrad. Of course….I’m going, and, I’m taking the Train

The most well known area of Los Angeles, Hollywood is once again going through a rebirth.  While the Sunset Strip may be the place for those in their 20s, Hollywood is developing into the place to live, work, dine and more for everyone who has not just turned 21.  Live/Work lofts, gourmet restaurants owned by celebrities and fancy new hotels are all a part of what is remaking Hollywood.

The next generation of city dwellers are finding themselves not living downtown, but in Hollywood.  The W Hotel is almost finished just blocks away the Broadway Building and across form the Pantages Theatre.  Hollywood & Highland and Sunset & Vine may have their glitz and glamour but they are not what is driving this Hollywood renaissance.  Several years ago Creative Environments of Hollywood developed and began leasing Cosmo Lofts, the first live/work loft project in the Hollywood area.  Since that time the W Hotel, a Whole Foods, and a slew of celebrity owned restaurants have accompanied projects like the Broadway building to bring those working in Hollywood to start living in Hollywood. 

In a recent article from the Wall Street Journal the slow down in the economy and the halt in lending has stalled the revival of Downtown Los Angeles.  As many developers have committed to rebuilding the historic core of Los Angeles the lending arm of our economy has shown its reservations.  Land and buildings have been purchased, time and money has been spent on plans, the local government has worked with developers all in an effort to rebuild the downtown area.  L.A. Live has set the groundwork for downtown to be a destination and a home for all of those in Los Angeles.  These improvements would not only financially benefit the city and its residents but also help the environment.  Less reliance on self transportation and more on mass transit, a central business district for the city and more.  While the banks are getting bailed out by our government they are not passing on the good will.  The money being given to these financial institutions should be passing through to businesses to reinvigorate our economy.  We all need to work together to get out of this depression.

A noticeable shift in the mindset of lessees has come to the forefront as demand increases for options in short term leases with the possibility of an out clause if the business looses a major client or is forced to file bankruptcy.  Given the current global economic conditions and all the uncertainty associated with it, business owners are justifiably apprehensive about locking themselves and their business into rigid lease terms. Leasing office space with a flexible term would allow a tenant to adapt based on the ever changing requirements of the business.  Many landlords have been forced to change their policies for renting space based on these changing needs of their clients.  A recent shift towards these terms within the commercial loft realm has been noticeable. While the concept of live work lofts has become trendy, many are now experiencing first hand how practical they can also be. In these times, the ability to roll rent to live and rent to work in one lease term can prove to be financially prudent for business owners. This urban concept allows these owners to cut down on costs significantly. While many are trying to determine how they can afford to balance car payments, residential rents or mortgages and business expenses; flexible terms and situations have become essential. Commercial lofts give the tenant a potential tax write off and because many of these spaces are in urban centers, a car may become a superfluous luxury. That eliminates the costs of gas, insurance, registration and parking.  Most businesses have transitory properties in that they rarely remain the same size for long. Successful ones grow and we all know what happens to the other kind. Flexible lease terms aid the latter and for both; loft space affords the business owner with the ability to grow or contract as needed. High ceilings and multi-levels allow the tenant to be creative with use of space. When the walls will simply no longer accommodate the business, the walls must come down. Many loft building owners allow tenants to tear down walls to combine units, eliminating the need for tenants to continually relocate, which aside from being a hassle can prove to be quite costly as well.For a business that may be floundering, there is always the possibility of dividing the space in such a way that enables the tenant to sublease part of their space to another small business. Some lofts are even being designed as modular so that walls can be moved easily and efficiently to best use the space according to the needs of the ever changing businesses. In many of these loft developments tenants also have the ability to network and even at times barter services. In these uncertain times, networking and bartering are becoming crucial for survival. A skill, a talent or a business focus can prove to be as valuable as money these days—especially when money seems quite hard to come by.