Ray Street Arts District
Encyclopedia
The Ray Street Arts District is an arts district
in the North Park
neighborhood of San Diego, California
.
to the west as well.
and suburbanization
that devastated many urban communities in the United States. However, the early 2000s have brought rapid revitalization to the area.
Today, Ray Street is the cultural epicenter of the emerging North Park arts community. It is one of the most culturally rich districts in San Diego and has drawn comparisons to SoHo
in New York City. Ray Street is home to many art galleries and studios.
Arts district
An arts district is a demarcated urban area, usually on the periphery of a city centre, intended to create a 'critical mass' of places of cultural consumption - such as art galleries, dance clubs, theatres, art cinemas, music venues, and public squares for performances. Such an area is usually...
in the North Park
North Park, San Diego, California
North Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California, USA. It is situated to the northeast of Balboa Park, bounded on the north by the canyons overlooking Mission Valley, on the south by Switzer Canyon and the South Park neighborhood, on the east by Interstate 805 and City Heights, and on the...
neighborhood of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Location
The Ray Street Arts District is centered on Ray Street between University Avenue and North Park Way in North Park, San Diego, California, and often includes 30th Street30th Street (San Diego)
30th Street is a major north-south road in San Diego, California on the east side of Balboa Park. It connects several of the densest urban communities of Central San Diego and has a high rate of pedestrian activity...
to the west as well.
Description
Ray Street was developed as a commercial district largely in the mid-1930s. As part of downtown North Park, it helped formed one of San Diego's largest business districts in the middle of the 20th century, but the latter half of the century brought the white flightWhite flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
and suburbanization
Suburbanization
Suburbanization a term used to describe the growth of areas on the fringes of major cities. It is one of the many causes of the increase in urban sprawl. Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area, choosing instead to live in satellite communities called suburbs...
that devastated many urban communities in the United States. However, the early 2000s have brought rapid revitalization to the area.
Today, Ray Street is the cultural epicenter of the emerging North Park arts community. It is one of the most culturally rich districts in San Diego and has drawn comparisons to SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
in New York City. Ray Street is home to many art galleries and studios.