Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Inquiry
Inquiry
Over the past five-to-ten years many of the Charlotte arts communities have
the renewal of a specific area due to the influx of middle-class residents, which
at the peak of the changes the gentrification causes is Plaza Midwood. In the recent
years Plaza Midwood changed from an art community that was primarily lower-
The rising property values is Plaza Midwood have threatened the existence of
what defined the neighborhood as an arts community. About two years ago a
nationally known Recording Studio known as Reflection Sound Studios closed its
doors for good. Several months later the building was torn down to build rather
Sound Studios; such as R.E.M.s first two albums and many of Grammy winning R&B
and worked as a recording engineer for eight years of my life, its where my love of
professionals has created a massive divide in the community. Since the young
community
members
had
to
leave
because
they
were
not
able
to
afford
their
rising
rent
costs.
As
well
as
artist
having
to
leave
the
arts
community,
the
influx
of
new
money has lead to rising crime rates. As many of the community members of Plaza
Midwood will explain; the crime rates are not rising but rather stayed the same. The
rational behind the crime staying the same is because there is now money to take
from the new high-income members of the community. Similarly the crime in the
Plaza Midwood has changed specifically from the way it used to be and the
changes in it directly affect the local music scene and the distribution of local art. The
more these venues and bars shut down the larger the possibility of local music
disappearing. Many musicians and artists are in danger of losing the place they have been
able to call their home. No arts community can exist where artists cannot afford to live.