The Mile End
The Mile End neighbourhood was formerly a garment manufacturing district populated by immigrants and working class communities. Artists and artist-run centres began moving to the district in the late 1990s, escaping higher rental costs in more central parts of the city. Centre Clark moved north to the Mile End in 2001, following eviction from its original location on Rue Clark in downtown Montreal. Along with its exhibition activities in its gallery space, Centre Clark rented additional space in the building, managing rental studios and a wood shop. The district attracted artists because of its combination of readily available space and cheap rent, and became a cultural hub, boasting the largest population of artists in North America in 2007. Within a decade, the Mile End became attractive to real estate investors. Now, artists can no longer afford to live or work there.