WAL

Warehouse Artist Lofts is a mixed-use, mixed-income community for artists, developed by the late Ali Youssefi of CFY Development in 2014. Of its 116 apartments, 86 are reserved for low-income renters.

Before moving to WAL in 2014, visual artist Jose DiGregorio slept in his studio at Verge Center for the Arts. "It was there I received a phone call saying I was approved for a three-bedroom (at WAL), and I started sobbing. I couldn't even speak."

Jose and his two teenaged daughters have lived in a three-bedroom apartment in the historic Lawrence Warehouse building ever since the community opened in 2014.

Being a self-employed artist presents financial challenges, Jose says. "I can run into issues where I don't have a steady paycheck and, of course, there's the steady ebb and flow of work." His rent at WAL — like other affordable housing communities — is capped at 30 percent of his income.

When the famiy moved into the three-bedroom unit, Olivia was 7 and Alma was 5. "Having a safe place for my daughters has always been paramount," he says. "It's always the key — safe and nurturing, a place for them to gain inspiration to see that they are capable of utilizing their talents."

Part of Jose's three-bedroom apartment is a dedicated studio space.

After finishing a recent mural, he brings back his supplies and stores them in his studio.

Paints are matched by color family and placed on shelves to await the next job.

Jose visits the mural that he was commissioned to install for WAL's grand opening. "I wanted it to be an experience so that from your line of sight when the elevator door opens, you are essentially walking into a portal," Jose says.

Jose describes his evolving style as repeating geometric patterns with celestial backgrounds or rich color gradients. "I do those in different scales," he says. "I'll do multi-level buildings as murals or down to small paintings that I sell out of my studio."

Jose steps into the WAL courtyard on a rainy morning.

"Having creative communities enriches everyone," Jose says. "You don't have to be 'creative' yourself but to be surrounded by art and culture in whatever capacity that is, that's always going to enrich."