ellum: ONSTAGE ≠ really: AWESOME

by Sam Crutsinger

Last month, we ran a preview of the new ellum: Onstage. Yesterday, Sam Crutsinger, who lives in the neighborhood, posted a comment with a different view. It is reprinted in its entirety below:

DEEP ELLUM — I live about 20' from that stage and I've got to say that the addition of this venue to Deep Ellum has made me want to move out of the neighborhood. I've lived in my loft since 1997. I've never enjoyed a living space as much as this warehouse, but because of this youth center and the ongoing battle to get them to stop blocking traffic on Virgil St and the unbearable noise levels that keep me up at night, I'm seriously contemplating moving to Austin.

ellum: ONSTAGE

(Click photo to see entire gallery)

Outside view of a door, that will presumably lead you into the building, one would hope.

Deep Ellum doesn't need more youth programs. Deep Ellum is an adult community where adults come to do adult things. Putting a youth center in Deep Ellum is like placing an AA meeting in a liquor store. You're bringing kids to the bar district to show them how to avoid drinking and drugs?

That's besides the point though. The problem with this venue is that it's been put up right across the street from several residential lofts. That is totally uncool.

What's worse is that when the bands are done playing, they're all amped up and come out side to right in front of my house and start howling and yelling and banging on random doors. Last night I thought there was a gangbang going on and I very nearly ran out with a gun to break it up and get them to leave, but it turns out they were just playing around and pushing some girl back and forth for fun while yelling at the top of their lungs.

I've been in contact with Rocky who runs the venue, but it just keeps on happening. The only improvement so far is that they were kind enough to keep the doors closed (for the most part) so the sound checks aren't deafening. Now they're down to "extremely annoying."

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To his credit, Rocky did shut down one band for defying him and propping the door open. For that ballsy act I'm thankful, but overall, my nice, quiet space on the fringe of Deep Ellum has been invaded and I can't decide if I want to leave or bring in my attorney to build a case for an injunction against any shows playing at that stage loud enough to be heard from the street.

They're breaking many noise ordinances and completely blocking Virgil St on a regular basis. If I subjected them at their homes to the sort of chronic annoyances I'm being subjected to, they'd have me hauled off to jail, but no, they're "helping the community." Well I say that they're pouring gasoline on the fire.

Deep Ellum used to be a great place to live. All-ages clubs opened up and everything started to go to $#/†. Now the local government is trying to fix Deep Ellum by backing programs to bring more underage people into the neighborhood. With inane planning like that, Deep Ellum is doomed. If it manages to rebuild, it will be rebuilt into a boring, homogenized, good little Plano-fied scoop of vanilla. Deep Ellum is losing its edge and this venue is helping file it down.

This story was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News community.