An Ode to the Disappearing Spaces

On Gentrification and Arts Spaces

Photo credit: Joey Kyber on Unsplash

I live in a city that, like many cities in America, is rapidly gentrifying. Old homes and buildings are being leveled for new, modern, and often ugly condos and townhomes. Rent is sky high and those who are looking to purchase a house find the gap between them and their dreams widening between housing costs, expected down payments, and rising interest rates. This has especially been hitting home for me when I think of the arts spaces we are so quickly losing. 

When I started performing poetry in Atlanta, the Yin Yang Café became Apache Café under new ownership. This became a venue that nurtured the talents of poets, emcees, and soul singers, many of whom went on to become national names with successful careers. Apache Café closed and had to reopen in a different location due to gentrification in the neighborhood.

Java Monkey was a coffee shop that also housed one of Atlanta’s longest running poetry open mics and poetry slam venues, Java Monkey Speaks. I fell in love at Java. I found my voice at Java. I learned how to write and perform better at Java. The coffee shop transferred to new ownership and then a disgruntled employee burned it down. Part of the space has since been rebuilt with no room to house the open mic that once was. 

MJQ, the first club I ever went to, the club where I saw Spinderella and Questlove deejay up close, is also closing this year. A developer purchased the land and MJQ will relocate to Underground Atlanta, a place that used to be a vibrant collection of stores, restaurants, and venues but is now a ghost of its former self, trying to revitalize and encourage folks to frequent the area again. 

I’ve lived here for over twenty years. Atlanta isn’t the city that raised me but it is the city that built me. Watching the way the city is changing in some ways is hopeful and in other ways is heartbreaking. Change is inevitable. But what about when change derails where the artists gather, where the poets can share their work, where the singers and musicians can develop their craft? 

I know the truth is, the artists will always gather. We will always find a house, a garage, a coffee shop, the forgotten corner of a bar, a library, a nook in a bookstore to host a convening. Theresa Davis is still gathering artists at the Arts Xchange, Cassandra Ingram is still hosting open mic at her coffee shop Urban Grind, artists are still curating spaces where we can gather. As the city is changing, as people are moving here from different places, how do we keep the arts alive? How do we curate spaces that remain affordable? I don’t have the answers to these questions yet, but I hope to be a part of the solution. 

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I’m watching…THE NEW SEASON OF CATFISH!

I’m reading…Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer

Feeling inspired by…Questlove Supreme podcast interview with Corinne Bailey Rae

Things I’m working on…learning how to make my own Tex Mex bean and cheese breakfast tacos…I’ll keep y’all posted!