
The Carrboro Board of Alderman will meet tonight to review the plans for 300 E Main Street, a large development project that happens to share the same address as the Cat’s Cradle and the Artcenter. If a similar situation was occurring in Raleigh, we’d be wringing our hands and planning a funeral for two beloved cultural institutions that made the mistake of creating a more desirable place to live and work. Ahhh, but Carrboro has long appreciated the halo effect of the Cat’s Cradle as it spreads its coolness all over that small mill town and places it on the international map of music lovers worldwide. Kirk Ross, of the Carrboro Citizen reports:
The ArtsCenter and Cat’s Cradle, longtime venues and a major draw for visitors and residents to downtown, are in a unique situation, with both the developer and the town keenly interested in seeing them prosper in the new surroundings.
Mayor Mark Chilton said Wednesday that, all along, the developer has tried to find a way to develop the site without losing the current tenants. When it comes to the two cultural institutions at the location, he said, there’s also an understanding that they’re not just economically important, but a key to the town’s “vibe.”
I’m a big fan of Raleigh’s Mayor Meeker but I don’t think he appreciates Raleigh’s “vibe” enough. I’m so happy to see the Cradle getting the appreciation it deserves, while simultaneously feeling embarrassment that Raleigh’s musical scene is currently represented by the Lincoln Theater and Deep South Entertainment. I realize that you can’t legislate good taste but it sure is nice to see city officials that apply some pressure to accommodate it.







Recent Comments