Exclusive: The Masquerade could be moving to Underground Atlanta

Get ready to rock, downtown: The Masquerade could be uprooting to Underground Atlanta.

On Monday, Brian McNamara of the Masquerade presented three requests to the liquor license review group of the Downtown Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) for locations on Upper Alabama Street in the heart of Five Points.

The move would come as the longstanding music venue scurries to find temporary lodgings as it sits in limbo, kicked out of its Old Fourth Ward digs, yet blocked from its anticipated new home on the industrial-meets-residential Westside.

News broke here in June that the Masquerade would be moving to a former warehouse, but NIMBYism has stalled those plans thanks to a lawsuit over noise concerns. Now, with demolition underway at the old Excelsior Mill that's being converted into a mixed-use development, the Masquerade needs a home in the meantime.

All indications are that the Underground Atlanta arrangement would be temporary, while details are ironed out about their planned Westside location. But if Westside plans were to permanently falter, there is the potential Masquerade could make the Underground digs more permanent, sources tell Curbed Atlanta.

The revelation is huge, as talks about the future of Underground as a major mixed-use center ramp up. Keeping a beloved local venue like the Masquerade in the mix to help anchor a burgeoning arts district could be a wise move — so long as Kroger's cool with that.

WRS via Atlanta Business Chronicle

A source indicates that the three performance venues — Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory — would be located along Kenny’s Alley. The NPU agreed to support those plans. That should help the Masquerade get through the License Review Board, which grants liquor licenses.

We've reached out to the Masquerade and will update the story with any additional news.

• NPU M Landuse/Executive Committee Meeting Minutes — September 12, 2016 at 6:30 pm [NPU M]
• Westside neighbors of new Masquerade sue, citing noise concerns [Curbed]
• Exclusive: Meet the Future Home of The Masquerade [Curbed]
• Photos: Beginning of the End for Atlanta's Beloved Masquerade [Curbed]
• It's Official: The Masquerade is Going Mixed-Use [Curbed]
• New Underground Atlanta Renderings Could Assuage Fears [Curbed]