No longer here, now and what to come: Can Philly's music venue scene resist the residential development pressure?

Venise Whitaker a Philadelphia resident and a life long music fan. 

At the age of 14 in 1989 she got involved in the punk rock scene, where she first discovered local music. As long as she can remember, musicians always performed in long forgotten, reused industrial buildings long forgotten. Currently, there is a development movement, resulting in the demolition of these treasured warehouses and factories, in favor of new luxury apartments and condominiums. 

Venise is a Riverwards neighborhood activist who spends her volunteer time advocating for reuse and safe construction. 

Lifelong Philadelphia resident Jamie Mahon cut his teeth in the sweaty basements warehouses and punk rock clubs in the Philadelphia music scene. After 10 years of hard work, moderate success soon followed with recordings, national and international tours (Marah, Three 4 Tens, Asteroid #4, and St. James and the Apostles).

Performing with such artist as Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Strokes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The White Stripes after 10 more years of slugging it out on the road Jamie was fortunate enough to save up enough cash, put down roots, and open up Green Rock Tavern in the Port Richmond Section of Philadelphia.

You can still catch him performing live with St. James and the Apostles, or hard at work in the recording studio at greenrock recorders.

Rana Fayez is the founder & director at YallaPunk, an arts organization that is redefining the narrative for the Southwest Asian North African community, as well as a web developer specializing in tech solutions for community organizations. They currently serve on the Citizen Planning Institute’s curriculum advisory board. Fayez is also a musician and sometimes an adjunct professor at local universities.

Virginia Biney runs Warehouse On Watts, a centrally rooted mixed use space nestled just off the newly developing North Broad Street Corridor. This grassroots event space emulates authentic Philadelphia grit and prides itself on contributing progressively to the ever-changing neighborhoods that surround. Within brews an intimate community of small businesses and artists who contribute to the unique character and soul of the building.

Brendon Olkus and Janay Green are the owners of The Saint, a corner bar, featuring a DJ booth, at 102 W. Girard Avenue.