A once-vacant storefront in the heart of Kenmore Boulevard is about to come alive again — this time with creativity, color, and community connection. The Rookery Creative Collective, led by Tansy Recycling, is officially setting up shop, adding a dynamic new layer to the area’s emerging music and arts scene.

Tansy Recycling is a locally based plastics recycling workshop that has been operating from a home studio in the neighborhood. Tansy has transformed post-consumer plastic waste into functional, artful items and has built momentum as a vendor and collaborator in various Better Kenmore CDC-sponsored events, showcasing their work alongside local musicians, visual artists, and makers. Better Kenmore CDC’s ongoing relationships—with both the community and local property owners—paved the way for a formal lease agreement. 

The new space will not only serve as a working studio and gallery, but also as a creative hub for workshops, exhibitions, and cross-disciplinary collaborations with local musicians and artists.

“We’re deeply inspired by the natural world, especially the various bird species that gather in our local area, like the water fowl swimming at Summit Lake or the uptick in urban hawks that soar over our neighborhoods.” said Ryan Carpenter and Wren Kohler, founders of Tansy Recycling and lead organizer of The Rookery Creative Collective. “In the wild, a rookery is a place where birds can gather to find community, safety, and the resources they need to thrive. For us, our Rookery is the same: providing our handful of artists an open, safe environment to work on their projects and be mutually inspired.”

This latest addition continues a trend of local entrepreneurs breathing new life into long-vacant storefronts—fueled by the strategic work of Better Kenmore CDC and a community eager to support its creative economy.