For ALTARIK BANKS, founder of Homa Studios, making ceramics has always been the easy part. It’s the logistics of it all that’s proven challenging for the New Jersey-based maker—finding studio space that’s affordable, that accommodates a kiln, that offers running water, and doesn’t eat up an hour-plus of his day in commuting time. Enter Newark Makerhoods, a just-opened multi-million dollar complex in downtown Newark that is a godsend to the Altariks of the world. The project aims to support microentrepreneurs by offering them access to affordable apartments, 10 (kiln-friendly) studio spaces for local makers, a fully operational greenhouse, and an expansive kitchen studio for food-focused makers, plus a refurbished turn-of-the-century mansion that’s being outfitted into a workshare and event space. For Banks, he has not only moved into a fully operational studio that can also serve as a showroom and retail space, he has taken advantage of a newly-constructed, market-friendly apartment space. Meaning that his hour-long commute has been reduced to a quick trip down the stairs. To learn more about the unique mission of this dynamic project, check out makerhoods.com/newark.