Showerthought: Vacant lots near Eastern Market are goldmines nobody's touching

I drove past this corner on Gratiot near Russell last month and noticed six months ago it was all overgrown. Now someone cleared it, graded it, and put up a 'for lease' sign. They didn't even list the price, just a phone number. I called and it's $750 a month for a pop-up lot. That's cheaper than most storage units. Has anyone else seen these random lots getting cleaned up and turning into quick cash for small vendors?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosebarnes16d ago

Seventy-five dollars a month for a pop-up lot is a steal in this city. That's less than what some people pay for a parking spot downtown. I've noticed a few of these cleaned-up lots popping up near the Dequindre Cut too, mostly rented out on weekends for flower sellers and fruit stands. It seems like a smart way for property owners to make a little money while they wait for something bigger to come along.

elliot_johnson3116d ago

Whoa, I hadn't thought about how this might affect the little mom and pop shops that have been there for years. Like, if these pop-ups start pulling in weekend crowds with cheaper rent, it could push out the older vendors who can't afford to compete on flashy displays. Maybe it's just me, but I wonder if the city is accidentally trading stable small businesses for temporary ones.