Criticism of Gentrification
It has been argued that the Arts District designation confers little benefit to artists, and in actuality is more beneficial to property owners, who are typically not local performers, artists or musicians.
Although the city and state have developed preliminary plans to provide affordable housing and work space for local artists and residents, many argue that the area provides few actual benefits to working artists. This has fostered the sentiment that the city has been exploiting the cachet of the artists in Station North, while rarely working with them in any meaningful way.
Furthermore, as the neighborhood undergoes gentrification, there is the concern that, like SoHo in Manhattan before it, local artists and entertainers will be forced out of the neighborhood if a proper balance is not struck between redevelopment and the needs of artists and lower income residents.
Read more about this topic: Station North Arts And Entertainment District
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