Does live-work work in Portland?

The concept of live-work space - loft-style units where artists and entrepreneurs can both occupy and conduct business - has caught the attention of developers here in Portland.

Hoyt Street Properties' under-construction Pearl District condominium project, The Metropolitan, for example, will feature a four-story live-work building adjacent to a 19-story tower on the corner of Northwest 11th Avenue and Johnson Street.

With nine of the 14 live-work units sold, Hoyt Street considers its live-work investment to be a success.

But, although there are dozens of units throughout the city for higher-income people seeking live-work space, these units haven't yet become accessible to young, low-income artists and creative entrepreneurs, simply because they can't afford the live-work space that is built here.

With live-work units at the Metropolitan and similar condominium buildings ranging from $300,000 to more than $600,000, live-work space is completely out of lower- and middle-income earners' leagues.