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YoHo Artist Studios is a community of producing artists and crafters that work out of two of the former Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company Mills buildings at 540/578 Nepperhan Avenue in Yonkers, New York. The population renting private studios here has grown to over 60 working artists since the current owners acquired the five-story loft buildings in 2005.  History of The Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company Mills:  The buildings were originally developed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and housed the Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company, as well as seemingly endless ancillary plants. The entire complex consisted of 38 sprawling acres with more than 40 buildings contributing. Hordes of workers filed in each workday, some manufacturing Moquette and tapestry power looms and others using these looms to weave their share of some 50,000 yards of carpet daily. At the peak of production the facility was the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, employed more than 7,000 people, and required wool from 15,000 sheep each day.

This was the largest carpet manufacturer in the world for much of the 83 years the company was in operation here in Yonkers. Not one employee lost his or her job during the Great Depression; it was agreed that hours would be cut, but jobs were not. The company was constantly improving their looms and increasing output.

The company maintained a good reputation and solid success until the end of World War II, when, after a number of employee strikes the city’s largest employer relocated to Greenville, Mississippi, where workers were not unionized. In the mid-1950’s the Yonkers plant shut down entirely, leaving a massive complex vacant and an estimated 5,000 workers without jobs. At closure, almost half the workers had put 25 or more years of their life into this company. The stronghold along Nepperhan and Saw Mill River, and within the Yonkers community, was suddenly gone.

 Beginning of YoHo Artist Studios:  With the deindustrialization of cities like Yonkers, comes the abandonment and deterioration of these massive buildings as communities develop an alternative economic purpose for their vacant properties. In this case, most of the 40-building complex stood empty for nearly 20 years until developers and smaller manufacturers began securing them for various uses. The two loft buildings that house YoHo Artist Studios today were purchased in 1978 by Mr. Allan Eisenkraft of Yonkers Industrial Development Corporation, who spent a total of about $4.5 million in conversion renovations. The buildings were then rented out to small businesses, mainly for manufacturing or creative industrial uses, the lower floors still operating in this manner today.

In 1983, the loft buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Several years later, Yonkers and Eisenkraft began see the trend of artists moving out of Manhattan and into more affordable work space outside of the city. Thus, some of the space on the fourth floor was dedicated to be used as artist studios in the early 1990’s, and was given the name YoHo, or “Yonkers’ SoHo.”

As artists sought larger spaces that they could afford, they were attracted to areas like Yonkers, which are within a 25-minute commuting distance to the traditional arts centers in SoHo and Chelsea. Some artists and crafters began sparsely occupying Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company Mills as well as other aging buildings in Yonkers in the early 1990’s, but recent years have seen the communities concentrating in these areas, especially in the North of Tilghman – or “No Ti” – district.  YoHo Artist Studios, its Members, and Their Work:  When asked about YoHo, members describe what their personally customized space at Nepperhan Avenue means to them. Many of the studios exhibit their artwork and interests. The Great Hall on the fifth floor is a common, gallery-esque space where the artists are able to display their creations and collaborate with fellow members or meet with prospective customers. Private events are also held here, as well as scheduled open house events when the building and its members open their doors to the public. The studios and common areas utilize the original 14-16 feet high ceilings and factory-style windows to allow for bright light and open floor plans.

Among the artists that rent or have rented space at YoHo include producers of murals, collages, sculptures, mixed media, and portraits. While the population is made up of primarily visual artists and specifically painters, there has also been a jewelry maker, a surface decorator, tattoo artist, lighting fixture designer, and custom motorcycle graphic artist.

 Recent Expansion and Recognitions:  The community has earned official recognition by New York State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, who deemed April 18, 2009 “YoHo Artist Studios Day.” In addition, the Mayor of the City of Yonkers Philip A. Amicone issued a Proclamation recognizing YoHo’s role in the growing artist community by dedicating a day to YoHo as well.

YoHo has grown and expanded since the property’s most recent acquisition in 2005. In the beginning of 2011 the owners started planning for the incorporation of 25 new spaces that would occupy a newly-opened fourth floor wing. These new studios sought to improve upon the original 50+ studios that were already occupied at 540 and 578 Nepperhan Avenue – by this time known to be Southern Westchester’s largest artist community.

 Transportation:  Yonkers has a extensive public transportation network, and therefore the studios are accessed from many directions. Transportation to and from Manhattan can be obtained via the Hudson Line Metro North Railroad (the Glenwood and Greystone stations are just a couple miles away), express service operated by the MTA and Bee-Line bus systems (a bus stop is located in front of the YoHo building), as well as the New York Water Taxi.