Can people please repost onwhatever platforms they have access too. Would greatly apreciate it. Also if you see a typo please correct it.
Rise Up Community - 12 Bar & the Shock doctrine
Consolidated Development, though it sounds like it, it is not the latest boy band to come out of the X-factor karaoke conveyor belt. Though I'm sure there are parallels with their ethos/mind set of the firm and entertainment show. Recently one of their henchman asked me “Are you against development?” to which I wish I replied “what you are doing is not development, it is destroying a creative hub and community.”
Consolidated Development formed up in the eighties and have been beneficiaries of 1986 deregulation. They have been buying up Denmark Street since 1993. With a portfolio of a claimed 300 million quids worth of property. From that they collect 12 million quid a year in rent. They can also borrow 75 million or 25 percent of their properties worth. Surely they have enough.
Having combed through Consolidated Developments business plan. Papers marked private and confidential should give even more confidence to the Save Tin Pan Alley, Denmark Street & Soho campaigns. Two words for you MISSION CREEP.
Another two words for you, SHOCK DOCTRINE. Like true vulture capitalists they are beneficiaries of the 2008 crash. They are looking to help banks expanding property portfolio gained through the misfortune of others. The expansion which has been caused by the finance sectors own morally bankrupt criminal behavior. Of which no one in the last seven years has been held to account. Like many known crimes of the one percent. Not one. Despite the increase in homelessness, fuel poverty related deaths, evictions, food banks, unlivable wages, unaffordable rents ect, these greed stricken people that form the practices that bring about such conditionality really don't care about the environment, cultures and indeed the lives they destroy. What makes it worse is the law protects them. Indeed they are prepared to use the tools of the law to obstruct the course of justice and break their own protocol. As they have done very recently in the eviction of the 12 Bar.
The independent business' along Denmark Street should be concerned. Already the rehearsal studio's are getting destroyed. Consolidated Development state in their business plan in their attempt to appeal to international investors that are looking for easy profits on their gambling, I quote “it's asset management arm has steadily increased annual rental revenue to give excellent cash on cash returns.”
Like with the fracking dash for gas push and the resulting harm that will visit the existing communities, Tin Pan Alley, a functioning musical world heritage sites fate will be decided by detached shareholders game of greed. It is not going to be decided by the democratic mandate of the communities affected but by people with no link, love or interest or understanding of the contribution that Denmark Street gives to the community and the Music Industry. Britain's third largest export.
It is only thanks to Camden councils stipulation that the front of the shops along Denmark Street have to retain their likeness. Though if somehow the structural integrity of said buildings were to have had their structural integrity compromised by other activities like Crossrails Tottenham Court Road shinannigans, perhaps Consolidated Development would feel legitimate in carrying through with their original plan of building a Times Square in London with its Luxury Rock and Roll flats in the area's where Jimmy Hendrix once played.
Independent business' on Giles High Street have already been pushed out. With the promise of increased rents to maximise investors return, for how long can the artist retain it's independence and cultural integrity as folklore, history storytellers and independent business communities. The hope of Consolidated Development to be part of a “Quasi Monopoly” to see London as a wonder city in the world conveniently ignores the fact that it already is thanks to the artists that create and express with in it, in sacred places like the 12 Bar and Denmark Street that sadly will be shut once more due to monetarily incentivised servants of the state, the protectors of corporate greed and overseers of the destruction of our communities.
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