Kings X Redevelopment: Community Politics & Transport

[ska invita]

Noticed that ed has been posting some nice pics around Kings X of late - timely as Kings X is about to come under the spotlight this November, what with the new Eurostar openign at St.Pancras + the 20th anniversary of Kings Cross fire.

The redevelopment is not all good news - and there is going to be a series of talks/events in November at HOusmans Bookshop looking at the issues, and bringing together many people involved in the campaigns.

If you're interested in the area please come down and check it out:

KING’S CROSS: TRANSPORT & COMMUNITY POLITICS

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the King’s Cross fire, and to coincide with the opening of the Eurostar rail terminal at St. Pancras station, the Wednesdays@Housmans series is dedicating November to a series of events exploring the rich history of King’s Cross, and the future of the area in the face of continued redevelopment.

Housmans Bookshop has played its role in the campaigns to retain some of the original character of the area, working alongside groups such as the King's Cross Railway Lands Group, as well as refusing vast sums of money offered by developers to move us from our location at 5 Caledonian Road, where the shop has been based since 1959.

We are therefore proud to host the following events, and hope you will join us in the continued struggle to protect our community. Snacks and refreshments will be available at all events.

WEDNESDAYS @ HOUSMANS - NOVEMBER 2007

Wednesday 7th November 7pm:
Kings Cross Residents Open Forum - chaired by Will Perrin

Will Perrin, of the local campaign website, King's Cross Environment, invites you to join him in an open discussion about the future of the King's Cross area - both the built environment and the social fabric of the community. A great chance to meet fellow residents, and learn about the many local campaigns, big and small, working on the issues affecting life in Kings Cross. Everyone welcome - if you are battling away on your own, or part of a larger
group, come and meet others, build alliances and find out what is going on.
www.kingscrossenvironment.com

Wednesday 14th November 7pm:
Christian Wolmar - How governments have always failed the railways

On the day of the opening of the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras, Christian Wolmar will be discussing the fraught relationship between the government and our railways, a topic he covers in his latest book, Fire & Steam (Atlantic Books, £20). Mr Wolmar is a leading authority on the British transport system, and this is sure to be a fascinating insight into the politics of our railways. See www.christianwolmar.co.uk for more info.

"Our most eminent transport journalist" Rod Liddle, Spectator,April 27 2007

Wednesday 21st November 7pm:
Unjum Mirza - 20 years after the King’s Cross fire...

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the King’s Cross fire, in which 31 people lost their lives, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) representative, Unjum Mirza, will be explaining how new safety regulations, brought in as a result of the tragedy, are being rolled back, and of the constant battle the RMT faces to protect these vital safeguards. Mr Mirza is the author of the RMT pamphlet I Do Mind Dying, which explores this subject and is now available at Housmans.

Wednesday 28th November 7pm:
Michael Edwards - The social costs of the redevelopment of King’s Cross

Michael Edwards, co-chair of the King's Cross Railway Lands Group and Senior Lecturer in the Economics of Planning at The Bartlett School, University College London, has spent the last 20 years examining the redevelopment of King’s Cross, and considering its implications for the local community. He will provide a fascinating and informed look at the future of King’s Cross that awaits us, as the redevelopment steps up a gear after the
opening of the Eurostar terminal.
www.kxrlg.org.uk

Throughout November:
Angela Inglis - Railway Lands: catching St. Pancras and King's Cross

Angela Inglis has recently published a book of photographs and writing about the King's Cross and St. Pancras we are losing. We are delighted to have some of the original prints on display within the shop throughout November. All prints are available to buy, as will be signed copies of her book (Matador, £30).
www.angelainglis.org


http://housmans.com
Housmans Bookshop
5 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross
London, N1 9DX.
tel: 020 7837 4473
e: shop@housmans.com

[editor]

Good thread fella - I've linked to this thread from the article.

[ska invita]

thanks - Must admit Im falling in love with area - its going to be fascinating to see how the redevelopment comes to be. It's definitely a balancing act, as surely its an area that deserves better, but what the costs of that will be we'll have to wait.

Already, for example, the dealers and pimps have been pushed up the north end of the cally road.

It's not a subject I know a lot about, so the events will be eye opening to me.

[Skim]

If you want an eye-opener, take an evening stroll around the Bemerton Estate

Good on Housman's for staying put I wonder what's happened to all the little shops round that stretch, like the Italian deli and Tony's Hemp Shop? I need to go and take a look sometime.

[Lisarocket]

Originally Posted by Skim

If you want an eye-opener, take an evening stroll around the Bemerton Estate

Good on Housman's for staying put I wonder what's happened to all the little shops round that stretch, like the Italian deli and Tony's Hemp Shop? I need to go and take a look sometime.

Tony's was still their last time i went past on the bus a couple of weeks ago.

The Bemerton is definitely still there...

[ska invita]

Aye, TOnys is there - having closed down its "clinic" a little further up. Italian Deli is there - in fact lots of little shops are hanging in.

What is daunting is that nearly half the shops at the bottom end of Cally Rd stand vacant waiting for people to take them over. Judging by the couple of shops that have opened (a flash spanish bar/eatery + top end florist) we can expect an upmarket selection of shops and businesses.

I dont havea problem with this per se - the danger is of course that rents will go sky and high and other shops will be forced to close.

[Skim]

Originally Posted by Lisarocket

The Bemerton is definitely still there...

They haven't turned it into a swish loft-apartment complex yet?

Oh, I miss the Cally Road. Apart from the scooters

[ska invita]

Tommorow, (wed 14th) the first Eurostar will swish into StPancras, and Housmans has got Christian Wolmar (the transport expert) giving us his critical take on this, and all matters train/government related.

Also, in an addition to the programme there is the wonderful Savage Messiah zine launch:

SAVAGE MESSIAH 8 KING’S CROSS ZINE LAUNCH.

Saturday November 17th 7pm


Posters, drawings, zine signings by Laura Oldfield Ford

Projections, films, readings - Savage Messiah Collective

We are delighted to welcome back Laura Oldfield Ford, who will be launching the latest edition of her unique Savage Messiah zine. Last month Laura led 50 odd people on a psychogeographic drift, away from the safety of Housmans out to the ‘redevelopments’ of King’s Cross. The sights and sounds gathered from this experience have been channelled into the drawings and writing of the latest edition of her unique and brilliant zine.

John Wild, anarchitect, activist, and psychogeographical explorer of data space, will be transmitting a pirate radio signal from a secret location in the Kings X area, constructed from locative data collected on the previous King’s X drift. A radio located in Housmans bookshop will be tuned to the audio broadcast.


http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org savagemessiah@hotmail.co.uk http://www.youtube.com/johnwild100

[Kid_Eternity]

Originally Posted by ska invita

Already, for example, the dealers and pimps have been pushed up the north end of the cally road.

Yep and to Market Road which has been great fun for the local residents from what I hear...

[MrSki]

If your about on Wednesday 14th then why not pop along to the Big Chill for the Eurostar launch party where the King's Cross Hot Club will be on stage around 9pm. Free to get in. It will be all seven taking a break from recording the new album.

Sorry about the plug but it's free & local.

The pimps and dealers were forced out about 4 years ago. There are still a number of junkies that like to use some of the houses in Keystone Cresent as a toilet. Much to my mate's annoyance!

He leant out of the window to have a go at someone shitting in his front yard only to be asked for 2s up on his fag!

[ska invita]

Originally Posted by MrSki

The pimps and dealers were forced out about 4 years ago. There are still a number of junkies that like to use some of the houses in Keystone Cresent as a toilet. Much to my mate's annoyance!

Whats really happened is that they have been pushed up to the top end of the Cally Road - a much more residential area than Kings X. It's a nightmare for the residents, who now find themselves living in an increasingly dangerous environement.





On another note re: Kings X redevelopment - its your last chance to get down to Bagleys/Canvas before it gets "redeveloped". New Years Eve will be the last night down there, but theres a few good things still in December (Best of British DnB Session in particular).
http://www.myspace.com/thebestofbritish

This is a great loss to London - the site is, I would imagine, Londons biggest warehouse club space, and in such a central location too - will be sadly missed.

[Prince Rhyus]

I'm moving down to this part of town in...ooh...4 days! (No more commute from Cambridge!)

I saw this - http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com...ion_211107.pdf

What's people's take?

Looking at http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com...der/index.html , do people think that crime's going to rise with lots of people using the Eurostar or will the gentrification of the area lead to crime falling?

Also, what local community-related stuff is there to get involved in round this way? (Thinking about stuff that would help a newbie settle in.)

[Fuzzy]

i'm gutted that Bagleys is going. i had some cracking nights there in about 97/98.

[Prince Rhyus]

Yay! Just moved in and am now a fully paid up member of the Russell Square Urban Cookie Collective Solid Squad Massive! Big Up to EoT and Small Down to all the runty blokes up de 'orl 'avin' a fag in Ch'inton

[toblerone3]

Been living in Kings Cross for nearly ten years now and its a fantastic place to live. But the big divide is the Euston Road. Nearly everyone I know lives south of the Euston Road where there's quite a community and also also some good little local festivals.

[Prince Rhyus]

Originally Posted by toblerone3

Been living in Kings Cross for nearly ten years now and its a fantastic place to live. But the big divide is the Euston Road. Nearly everyone I know lives south of the Euston Road where there's quite a community and also also some good little local festivals.

I'm south of Euston Road. What's life like to the north?

[themonkeyman]

Originally Posted by editor

Good thread fella - I've linked to this thread from the article.

sorry, i am being dumb, where is the article ?

[phildwyer]

Originally Posted by toblerone3

Nearly everyone I know lives south of the Euston Road where there's quite a community and also also some good little local festivals.

That's where I stay when ın London. I lıke ıt a lot, some great old pubs lıke the Lord John, the Dolphın etc.

[rennie]

Originally Posted by toblerone3

Been living in Kings Cross for nearly ten years now and its a fantastic place to live. But the big divide is the Euston Road. Nearly everyone I know lives south of the Euston Road where there's quite a community and also also some good little local festivals.

I stumbled on a great local festie some 7 years ago around Judd street. Great fun!