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History
52 O Street was built in 1917 and initially leased to People's Wholesale, a pharmaceutical distributor, followed by Decca Records which used the building as a distribution center. In 1978, Eric Rudd, a Washington DC sculptor, recognized the acute shortage of affordable studio space for Washington artists and purchased the existing 53,000 square foot. The warehouse configuration was ideal for conversion to art studios since it offered considerable flexibility in the arrangement of studios, from small to large, loft-like spaces which double as living quarters. The process of purchasing the building, obtaining financing and completing the structural conversion proved to be more complex than expected. Bankers' loan policies as well as residential and commercial real estate regulations of various government agencies simply didn't include provisions for low cost work space for artists. Still, the building was ready for artists by Spring 1979. Since that time, many established local and national painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelry designers, woodworkers and musicians have maintained studios here.
Marty Youmans purchased the building from Eric Rudd in March 2003 and continues to maintain 52 0 Street as a center for inner city working artists.
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