Connecting the LGBTQ+ Community in Cleveland
Founded in 2019, Studio West 117 is an LGBTQ+ environment where people of all identities and ages can be authentically themselves. Studio West 117 is a walkable neighborhood that’s primary aim is to improve the quality of life of the LGBTQ+ community and respond to its dynamic needs. With an emphasis on philanthropy, health and wellness, arts and culture, and entrepreneurship, Studio West 117 is 300,000 square feet of reimagined real estate on the Lakewood/Cleveland border.
This new neighborhood truly has it all – with a new gym, courtyard, rooftop patio, restaurants and bars, the Fieldhouse at Studio West 117 will be the epicenter for LGBTQ+ recreation and events. The iconic Phantasy Entertainment Complex, with six unique entertainment destinations and several ground-floor retail spaces will be renovated to reinvigorate LGBTQ+ nightlife. Artists from the national and international stage will be prominently showcased throughout the space to provide a wider lens on LGBTQ+ entertainment from drag and burlesque to theater, live music and the physical arts.
Other services and amenities for the LGBTQ+ community will be located throughout Studio West 117 – from a rentable podcast studio and maker space, to mental health services, a community coffee shop, LGBTQ+ health clinic and much more.
We Believe…
| Sustainable, groundbreaking cultural change is possible. |
| Decisions made through the lens of social justice keep us focused on what is important. |
| The LGBTQ+ Community deserves a place that honors its culture and supports its members. |
| All youth should have a safe and welcoming place to play and be themselves. |
| Everyone should have access to high quality, affordable and culturally competent healthcare that’s designed for their specific needs. |
Programming at Studio West 117
The programming at Studio West 117 is designed to reflect the full and varied spectrum of LGBTQ+ culture and life experience and includes everything from entertainment to athletics to the culinary arts to studio art and much more.
The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith. We are a collection of individuals that represent every profession, every race and every religion and political viewpoint. We are students, tradespeople, professionals, artists, veterans, elite athletes and civil servants. We are spouses and singles, parents and grandparents. We live at every socioeconomic level and in every country on earth.
Studio West 117 strives to provide ways for all people in our community to connect, to learn and to thrive together and as individuals. That’s why we do everything we can to make our programming as accessible as possible and create the widest variety of events, so everyone feels included and like they can find something at Studio West 117 that will bring them joy and help them grow.
Code of Conduct Introduction
Studio West 117 is proudly developing a groundbreaking hub for greater Cleveland’s LBGTQ+ community which will enhance the region’s LGBTQ+ ecosystem through the support of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship, arts, culture, health, and human services.
To help combat the discrimination, marginalization and oppression that are sadly still all too commonplace in today’s society, Studio West 117 is committed to creating and fostering a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all individuals of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies regardless of race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, physical or mental ability, or marital status.
Our Studio West 117 Code of Conduct is the foundation on which we operate and it is our expectation that all those who participate in our community will adhere to these basic guidelines. Please review our Code of Conduct in our Terms and Conditions.
Safety at Studio West 117
The safety of our staff and guests is of paramount importance at Studio West 117. In fact, maintaining a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community is at the center of our mission. Although physical safety measures can only go so far, we have implemented best-in-class protocols to keep everyone as safe as possible while on the premises. In addition to our internal security systems and processes, we work closely with local authorities and security organizations. We also practice ongoing reviews with our Security Coordinator to assess possible vulnerabilities. Click below to read more about our safety measures.
Our Project Developers
Daniel BudishProject Developer
Daniel is the President of Gaslamp Capital, a historic tax credit consulting firm founded in 2015. He holds degrees in urban planning and city design from Cornell University and The London School of Economics. Daniel has dedicated his career to renovating and preserving historic buildings across the country through the implementation of innovative financing structures. As a native Clevelander, he has long thought about how he could best utilize his skills in tax credit finance to benefit the LGBTQ+ community. This project is a dream come true for Daniel due to its combination of historic preservation, its intense focus on philanthropy, community development, and of course — all the drag.
Betsy FiggieProject Developer
Betsy is President of Your CFO Resource, a structured financing consulting firm founded in 2005, specializing in tax-credit enhanced projects typically utilizing New Markets Tax Credits. Having closed upwards of $1 billion in transactions over her career, Betsy is thrilled to be co-developing Studio West 117. Betsy believes that one of the most critical elements of the project is ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth have a safe place to play, explore, connect and grow. Betsy has degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University, The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, L’ecole Commerciale de la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris, and the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute.
Our Community Partners
If you would like more information about becoming a Community Partner, please contact us.
