Front of the Masquerade on Ponce de Leon Avenue

The Masquerade, located across Ponce City Market on 695 Ponce de Leon Avenue, served as a mid-size capacity music venue for Atlanta while maintaining the old framework that the building was originally constructed for. In present day, the Masquerade is officially closed at the current location and is moving, though the whereabouts of the new location appear troubling for the establishment. The venue sold its site to developers for $2.8 million with plans to become a mixed-use development. Interestingly, the new developers, North & Line, intend to retain the original structure in order to emphasize the  building’s rich history when it functioned as the Dupre Excelsior Mill in the early 1900’s. The building is quite historic as it was built in the late 1890’s serving as a manufacturing warehouse. In 1988, however, the Masquerade bought the property and transformed it into a music locale. Currently in Atlanta, urban designers have heavily encouraged new mixed-use developments throughout the city which has perpetuated as a design trend. Therefore, the plans to transform the venue into a mixed-use property coincide with that movement. I had visited the Masquerade twice: before and after its purchase. Prior, the venue exhibited Atlanta’s more edgy, alternative music scene with numerous acts originating from varying degrees of the rock genre. The audio clip above taken from a concert that I went to at the Masquerade demonstrates the music that is typically performed at the venue. Rock, metal, punk, emo, indie, and alternative bands consist of the characteristic artists that perform at the Masquerade. As far as the layout of the site, there are three different stages within the venue: heaven, hell, and purgatory which adds to its malevolent feel. Because of the multiple stages, many acts can perform throughout a single night which results in the venue having the ability to book additional musicians. The decoration and design of the building appear sinister with overwhelming dark colors which appeal to its particular music audience. Moreover, its outdated construction establishes an antique quality that is unprecedented within many urban venues. Presently, the Masquerade is being renovated which was noticed in my second visit to the site. Obviously, individuals whom are deeply investing in the venue are upset, but the community seems to accept the building’s new use. Directly aside the venue, various construction equipment lays and the redevelopment of the property appears already visible. The adjacent land looks desolate and desperate for revitalization which urban designers have rapidly acted upon. Hopefully, the construction will finish in the upcoming years so Atlanta residents can enjoy its revitalization and the benefits of mixed-use properties in urban landscapes.