Lucky Ladybug Guy won't be evicted

The fragile world of the Ladybug Guy got a little stronger this week. He's not getting evicted.

And Buddy Foley has become a local cause célèbre about the plight of aging artists who don't have the finances for medical bills or housing.

His gas-station-converted-into-a-studio on 15th Avenue West near the Magnolia Bridge, with its colorful sidewalk boards advertising the insects at $5 for 100, is a familiar sight to passing motorists.

Just last week, with Foley six month behind in his rent, the King County Sheriff's Office on June 28 taped an eviction notice on the frayed plywood door to his studio, threatening that his possessions could end up on the sidewalk anytime after midnight July 1.

That would have included his vast collection of pop memorabilia, from a Ludwig bass-drum head cover with a genuine Beatles logo, to his collection of vintage Mickey Mouse and other lunchboxes, and videos cataloging years of Seattle art events.

After a Seattle Times story about his plight ran last week, Triad Interbay LLC, which owns the property, was contacted by people concerned about Foley.

"I didn't know anything about him other than he sold ladybugs," said Fred Grimm, one of two principals of Triad Interbay, who has yet to meet Foley.

But, Grimm learned, "He's one of Seattle's characters. ... My kids like ladybugs. Maybe we'll come by and buy some from him sometime."

Grimm said that Triad Interbay was willing to sign a 20-month lease with Foley because of offers to pay his back rent and guarantee payment of future rent. Also, Foley would have to show he had a separate residence.

Grimm said the property owners had been contacted by the city about concerns that Foley was living at the studio, when it was zoned industrial and not residential. Foley denies the studio was his primary residence.

Learning of the reprieve, Foley, 60, was basking in the turn of events, yesterday showing off his memorabilia collection to a local television crew.

"I felt like a burden was lifted off my shoulders," he said. "That weight was like a small elephant, which might weigh 600 pounds."

One of the individuals helping Foley is Ann Wyman, a longtime Seattle arts patron who has known him for years. She said she will pay the $2,700 he owes in back rent, which now is $425 a month.

"My heart goes to Buddy and everybody else in that situation," she said about artists and finances. "All these men and women are being driven out. The city has become too expensive for them."

Payment of the 20-month lease will be guaranteed by the developers of Arts Brewery, who are constructing an artists' live/work loft at the former Rainier Brewery site that is expected to be completed in six months. Conan Gale, manager of the site near Interstate 5, said Foley was instrumental "in getting the word out" about the development to other artists, and this was a way to compensate him.

"People like Buddy Foley and artists who occupy warehouses and lofts are responsible for developing some of our best neighborhoods like Pioneer Square, Fremont and Belltown," Gale said. "Artists move in, they take derelict buildings and personally upgrade them. In doing so, they create a kind of cultural gravity, and suddenly the neighborhood becomes more desirable to everyone.

"Pioneer Square, before the artists moved in, had a considerable amount of vacant buildings and very few functioning businesses. Today, after the artists played a major role for 20 years, the neighborhood has completely turned around."

He also said that Triad Interbay shouldn't be painted as a cruel landlord.

"I don't know of any other landlord who'd allow six months to go unpaid, go through the formal eviction process, and then be willing to allow a tenant to continuing leasing from them. I consider that to be very generous," Gale said.

There also are plans for a benefit to be held late this month for the Ladybug Guy, said Billy King, a longtime local artist, to help pay Foley's extensive medical bills. He recently had two skin-cancer operations and had his gallbladder removed, with the bills totaling $38,500, Foley said.

"Buddy is just the tip of the iceberg," King said. "There are a whole group of aging artists of all types who don't have health insurance or don't have the finances for a loft."

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com