Landlords are turning to artists to fill unsightly vacant commercial space with artwork, something rarely seen before the economic downturn. Like those landlords who have donated space to artists, commercial property managers are renting out space at a discounted rate, typically for a few weeks. Right now, nearly 50 works of art occupy the Port Authority Bus Terminal, for example, while Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue Extension has welcomed a handful of pastel drawings and sculptures. Jed Walentas, head of the Brooklyn development group Two Trees Management, said that the short, flexible leases can be ideal for landlords with a dearth of tenants. “Any sort of activity is better than no activity The question is, who can you find that’s going to make an investment in a space,” Walentas said. “Often it’s the artist.”
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