Urban Art Association

That voice over drove me mad!

Mmm, have to agree. Pretty sure it's Matt's voice. Maybe he should have sung it! Could have been worse though eh - could have been Ken Livingstone's voice, although I'd say that would be highly unlikely given the subject matter.

mmmm how sweeping of you!

that's not happening in Shoreditch alone by any stretch of the imagination...and there's still a fair few 'normal' people left in the area...

I dont see that happening myself. You only have to go to Brick Lane or Columbia Road to know this is not the case.

noodles1 has a point. Shoreditch and hoxton haven't always been as desirable places to live as they are now.

The whole reason artists such as damien hirst and co used studios within the area was because of extremely low rents caused by a lack of demand for spaces within the area.

Over time and with an influx of art/fashion/music kids the area built up and became 'cool'. With prices the way they are currently around hoxton square/shoreditch no one except for highly paid young professionals can afford to live there. Loft appartments in New York are exactly the same...once owned by artists for being large and dirt cheap, then perceived as 'cool' with loft parties, now the properties of very rich new yorkers.

Young artists cannot afford to live in Shoreditch/Hoxton anymore. Didnt Tracey Emin recently buy a studio opposite spitalfields market for £4m purely because of what the space had meant to her, she felt that she paid well over the odds but the area had meant so much to her when she was starting out so didnt mind paying.

Artists/music/fashion kids are being driven out by landlords demanding higher rents only affordable to young professionals. Hoxton square is a joke these days, there's the odd good gig around there but its occupied by absolute wankers on any weekend. Anyone who's lived in the area will tell you this and will also tell you wheres good to go.

The area is still highly individual and exciting but 75% of its occupants unfortunately are not. Dont get me wrong, I love it around there but unfortunatelt times move on and the 'cool' areas change. Camden is a prime example.

Just my two cents anyway

Nicely put pure evil.

welcome to the 21st century.

land in london is reputed to be the most expensive in the world.
as space runs out in the 'city' it is only natural that the borders expand to give more space.
shoreditch has previously been cheap but has become more expensive and people like tracy emin and hurst and the art galleries are making things worse as they make money, bringing money into the area. but they weren't there forever were they? are they not seen as the route of all evil? when do you want to harp back to - about the time of the fire of london? times change and so does the city landscape.

these people feel sorry for themselves as they have to move when they could be thankful for the increase in revenue they get or the increased house prices when they sell.
just playing devils advocate to an extent.

but saying " ... young professionals .... absolute wankers ..." i do take exception to as i am young (31) and a professional with many friends (same jobs etc) who have lived in shoreditch for a few years.

im dont mean to harp back about the 'golden days' but any kind of save shoreditch campaign is sorely deluded, as you corrcetly put times and city landscapes change. 'the route of all evil' has unfortunately bitten the hand that fed it so to speak.

Also...when i say that hoxton square is full of wankers on any given weekend i do not mean young professionals nor people like yourself and your mates who live in the area but those who travel for ages to get there. Sweeping generalisation i know but come on, you have to agree with me.

I personally dont have a problem with people travelling there. Its a free city and everyone has a right to drink whever they like. If I had just moved to London Id be keen to see what all the fuss was about too.

I think Shoreditch is no longer cool and hasnt been for a long, long time. Its no different to Camden or Notting Hill now. It has a few cool pockets...the vibe isnt the same.

Once the posh kids move in...thats usually it.

Not harking back to a golden era. Not sure if there ever was one! It was just alot less commercial and independant business had a better chance of survival....

Browns and the Lainbow, real survivors...

Agree there mate. The change in Shoreditch has been gradual but it has been happening for a long time. I certainly dont believe they should be knocking it all down to make way for bland buildings that look like everywhere else.

That would be a real shame.

Correct me if I am wrong but doesnt the video suggest Ken Livingstone has given the green light for some of these changes?

Doesnt this contradict the meaning of local resident and Ken supporter Banksy's Tesco image?

Hoxton Sq is ace for eyeing up birds!

I'm with you on that one Carlito.... I usually am with you when you're doing that too!

I'm all for London being more like Brighton, but in the 10 years I've been out and about in it it's already changed a load. If the grays redevelopment kicks off properly then the whole of East London will be opened up and changed, housing the overspill before it itself gets redeveloped into offices.

Unfortunately that's 'progress'.

By the way - great name, Killer Kellah!