Raw Space is a restaurant serving cocktails, beer & wine and featuring a variety of events on two sound stages. It is also a flexible events center, available to rent for shows, celebrations, seminars, classes, and more.
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Concept
Communities need culturally stimulating gathering places to attract and retain creative people.. These “creatives” in turn attract business, tourism, and energy… making the community stronger¹. Raw Space opened its massive door in late 2009 to help bring this kind of energy to Ellensburg’s historic district. |
Raw Space is an initiative of The Elmira Arts Project. The space is intended to be a
“third place” in people’s lives, after their home and work. Our goals are to…
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promote cultural vitality, economic growth, and fun in the city center,
- strengthen the ties between the City and Central Washington University,
- contribute to historic preservation, renovation, and a “sense of place,”
- … and strive for business sustainability while achieving financial success.
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 courtesy of Ellensburg Public Library |
¹Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida (Basic Books, 2004)
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| Strategic Location
• Ellensburg is a creative community and a college town 100 miles East of Seattle, with a high-desert climate and situated on the Yakima River.
• The project is located in the heart of the Historic District, facing the farmers market, a few blocks from the university. The upstairs hotel is potential downtown residential space. |
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The Buildings
The Elmira Arts Project is housed in a 23,000 square foot property, currently comprised of seven downtown storefronts, including the Raw Space performing arts venue (117 E 4th), and five leased commercial spaces. The upstairs level is the site of the historic Elmira Hotel, presently undeveloped.
The property is comprised of three buildings: the 1889 Elmira Hotel, the ca. 1905 Post Office building, and a mid-century commercial building facing Pine Street. The hotel building was built in the months following the Great Ellensburg Fire on the 4th of July 1889 and shortly after the founding of the city. There are seven retail spaces at street level and 29 rooms in the classic Western “walk-up” hotel above. Ultimately, The Elmira Arts project will include restoration of the Elmira Hotel façade, further development of the retail spaces and renovation of the upper level. The property is owned by Oyasin Community Development. |
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Raw Space Facility Layout
Raw Space is a flexible performing arts venue with bar service, simple foods, free broadband internet access and convenient facilities. All ages are welcome at many of the shows on the Main Stage and the Elmira Stage (in the bar).
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The Future
Our intent is 0to allow the character of the arts in our space to evolve, as the Elmira Arts Project responds to the needs and interests of the community. We will continue to look for ways to honor our artists, suppliers, customers, and the history & ecology of the place in our events, publications and displays.
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courtesy of Ellensburg Public Library |
| We are indebted to many members of our community who have helped design, build, operate, sustain, and grow this project. We are grateful to our artists for their tireless creativity and effort. And to our amazing team. Thanks to all of you, the Elmira Arts Project has made it this far… and the best is yet to come. |
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