"We have a dynamic bunch coming in here: artists, professionals, politicians," he said.
In recent years, however, artists, professionals and snowbirds have turned skid row into real estate gold.
Farther north, and south, old warehouses and factories have become home to artists, professionals and trendy young families.
The French culture minister, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who was at yesterday's unveiling, said the foundation would be a place for "debates, meetings and exchanges between artists, professionals and the public, as well as between the past, present and future".
There were young people and older citizens, families with small children, students and representatives of the middle and working classes and many organizations, including advocates of gay and women's rights, antiwar groups, immigrants, veterans, artists, professionals, religious organizations and proponents of education, health and other causes.
Similarly performers, artists, professionals spend hundreds of hours honing their skills, without taking any shortcuts to perfect their art and to stay at the top.
But the stars are dwarfed by the number of anonymous artists (professional and amateur) who have toiled away at Ms. Panetta's straightforward but devilishly difficult exercises.
Using the pregnant orb as a canvas, artists (professional or expectant) create basketballs, billboards, Disney portraits, henna designs and nature scenes on the blank expanse of skin.
Military men with stars on their shoulders shared beers with artists and professionals.
"Tattoo artists are professionals – they need to be able to make decisions," he says.
If the tenants -- largely artists and professionals -- are lucky, the original fireplaces still work.
