The Vortex Occupied Social Centre Evicted

imc-uk-features | 08.03.2007 15:45 | Free Spaces | Repression | London

Early in the morning of March 6th, high court bailiffs and police moved in to evict the Vortex Occupied Social Centre. The old Jazz bar on Stoke Newington Church Street, North London, had been occupied since the beginning of the year and had been open for numerous and varied community events [ 1 | 2 | 3 ].

On Saturday 10th, a solidarity demonstration against the eviction took place in Stoke Newington [Pics]

vortex occupation........

The building was previously the home of the world-famous Vortex Jazz Club until notorious Hackney landlord and property developer Richard Midda bought the Vortex and threw the Jazz Club out. Midda's intention is to turn the venue into a retail outlet, possibly with luxury flats above. Rumour had it that Starbucks was interested in opening one of its lookalike corporate coffee shops on the site.

In response to the threat of a Starbucks in Stokey, local residents formed Church Street Community Action Group, which is committed to preserving the unique and non-corporate character of Church Street. Starbucks subsequently claimed to have "no plans" to open a coffee shop on the Vortex site, although it remains to be seen whether they will change their minds now the building is conveniently empty.

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Comments

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cheers

09.03.2007 16:44

. . . . a very good place, exceptional moments. . . . progress, in fact! Q!
nxt?!!!
lots . . . .
(hence "cheers")

aint the thing

CHEERS!

09.03.2007 17:04

a very good place, wonderful people - (allsorts) - despite the stress etc, a few bits of amazing "problem sorting" - in its last couple of days big steps forward were happening in quiet ways, other "new" very local people were getting involved, to discover that doing "that sort of thing" wasnt as weird OR as hard as they might have thought in the past - the caff was tidier than it was when the "jazz" was playing loud, the fresh flowers or tealights got laid out by the people that did the "wackiest" seeming input to the discussion meetings as much as the "sensible" sounding people - in fact - its a pleasure to say that, at least at times, it was the "wacky sounding people" that WERE the most sensible,
also, quite good at looking after kids that escape from pushchairs, etc
MUCH food for thought
i wont forget it
ever

nxt????
(+ me too!)
c h e e r s

+cheers, again!

So, Fairwell...

10.03.2007 17:44

One of the best social centres I ever had the privilage to be a part of.
And a place where a man could go to work in a frock!

Mike

Not farewell but what next

10.03.2007 19:30

Vortex is gone but the momentum is there for a new space, get involved mike and come to Ryans bar on wednesday.

cheers

A

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