Beloved Denver DIY Venue Rhinoceropolis Shut Down in Wake of Oakland Fire
DIY Denver venue Rhinoceropolis was shut down Thursday when it was deemed unsafe by the Denver Fire Department. Inspectors discovered that the venue had several fire code violations, Westword reports. Responding to complaints in the aftermath of the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, inspectors found that there were hazardous conditions that made the structure unsafe.
Five people were reportedly living in the building’s lofted rooms, but the building is not zoned residential. “An inspection of 3553 Brighton Blvd. on Thursday, Dec. 9 night revealed numerous serious fire code violations,” the Denver Fire Department said in a press release. “The fire hazards identified create a hazardous environment including extension cords used for permanent wiring, wrapping paper on the walls and plastic on the ceiling.”
Rhinoceropolis has been open for 11 years next door to its sister venue, Glob. It has been widely recognized as the center of Denver’s underground scene. According to Westword, events are donation-based, all ages, and staffed the building’s tenants and volunteers. Several notable acts performed at the space in their early days including HEALTH, Future Islands, No Age, Dan Deacon, Matt & Kim, Lightning Bolt, Thee Oh Sees, Ponytail, Women, High Places, Vivian Girls, and more. On December 17, Rhinoceropolis was planning to host a benefit for the Oakland fire victims.
The shut down is a response to high tensions surrounding the safety of DIY music spaces. It follows the recent, deadly warehouse party fire that broke out in Oakland earlier this month that killed 36 people including several artists. Baltimore officials recently shut down the Bell Foundry studio and recording space after they received a complaint.
Read “After Ghost Ship, Oakland DIY Grapples With a Broken System.”
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