An Evening at the Nicholas Cage

Last evening proved something that I thought was a hopeful theory. After reading and watching films about gentrification and how horrible of a process it is because of displacement and ignoring the rights of the established community, I witnessed what I believe is a gemstone in development and relations between community and developers.

In my final paragraph of my paper on gentrification, I established my side of believing it can be a positive process if all parties are including in said process.

"Community engagement is key to group struggle, and the more a movement like this is built up, the more attention is derives from the outside. Gentrification and redevelopment can be a positive process, just as long as all parties are willing to work with one another to ensure the stability of the existing community."

When I arrived at the Annex on Oliver St. around 11pm, I expected to encounter a group of artists drunkenly enjoying each others company. I expected to feel slightly awkward, as I usually do in new surroundings with new people, and was worried about latching onto my research partner for social support.

Instead, I spectated the ending stages of a conversation between the residents of the Nicholas Cage (the name of the 3rd floor of the Annex) and Charlie Duff, leading developer of Jubilee Baltimore. I didn't read his description till now, but this guy is pretty big...

"Charlie Duff is an experienced developer and planner and perhaps the greatest living authority on Baltimore’s architecture and development. In eighteen years as Jubilee’s President, Charlie has led a team that has built or rebuilt houses and apartments for thousands of Baltimoreans. Author of the Midtown Community Plan, he has been central in facilitating the revival of Baltimore’s four central neighborhoods. Charlie is a frequent lecturer on architectural history at the Walters Art Museum and the Johns Hopkins University. He is the past president of both the Baltimore Architecture Foundation and the Patterson Park Community Development Corporation. Charlie is a graduate of Amherst College and the Harvard Graduate School of Design."

The conversation seemed to have gone on for hours. They discussed the development of the empty lot across the street, which went into discussions of displacement, public transportation, poverty, and general urban renewal of Station North and especially the survival of the planned-use developments like the Annex, Copy-Cat, and Area 405 building. A big topic was the abandoned Lebow Coat Factory, which is subject to be either demolished or redeveloped. Alex Fox is a huge advocate to save and renovate the building into a music space. There was also a lot of talk about the buildings owner, Abraham Zion, who doesn't seem to care about much except himself and his finances, and wasn't concerned about the building as a space for the artist community.

This cropped the discussion for what the next step would be for these resident artists. Duff simply stated he hoped that the PUD's existed well after his death. He wants the artists to organize and stand up for themselves in order to establish their presence during this redevelopment process. It was incredible to see this, knowing that it was rare to have developers interact with those who will possibly be displaced.

I found it interesting that when asked what will happen to those who won't be able to afford housing in this area, Duff simply stated that these people would end up moving anyway. He also said most black Baltimore citizens aren't poor. He also noted how it was the first community meeting he had been to where there were no black people in attendance, to which the artists responded that there were barely any living in the building. It became apparent that there was an unintentional racial divide in this community.

One artist who is about to move into the building, Katharine, suggested that the empty lot be turned into a community space, which would be more stimulating for creativity and communal efforts. A park or green space would be more conducive and beautifying to their standards. However, Duff knows how the vacancy rate at the moment is at 56% in this area, and better housing opportunities will be more beneficial and also bring a profit to the neighborhood.

Duff suggested that in two weeks they meet again, also with the head of the Baltimore Museum of Art, who is also on a board discussing the redevelopment of the area.

Once the meeting was over, I discussed my research and motives with several of the members, all whom seemed very excited about what I wanted to do for them. Katharine suggested we go into the community to talk to black residents to inform them of the changes happening and to get their opinions. Alex suggested that for the next meeting we had a hidden camera and tape recorder in order to get un-altered facts that can be kept on record. I don't know how I feel about that yet...

The only person who seemed to have a problem with my proposition was a performance artist named Emily. She seemed very skeptical, and wants to have a proposal in hand so she knows exactly what would be occurring. She seemed very shocked by the entire evening, especially because this was the first time she had heard anything about redevelopment. She then incurred why I hadn't brought this up before, and I felt it was more appropriate to bring up my research that evening because the community would be in a better mind-set to discuss gentrification, research, and community organizing than if I was just to pop-up unexpected one evening and change the mood.

I'm excited for the prospects of engaging myself with this group. What I stumbled upon that evening was something organic and spurring. Gentrification is teetering in this area, about to go into stage 2, and those who are new to this area are obviously trying to hold onto it's baby stages, keeping it special and out of the hands of corporate interest. I witnessed my theory come into play, of top hands coming into works with those from the bottom. This is an unfolding story that I now get to play a part in. This is going to be a great learning experience as a documentary filmmaker, because I'm watching something happen before my eyes. More to come!!!