They were basically living in an empty warehouse - and I read that twenty people paid rent there. They brought 20 consumers into a building that had none, and as weird as they look they were less dangerous than superpredators. Cities across the country want to set up these “artist colonies” for that very reason; they are trying to bring any commerce into areas that have none. Just having people prepare their coffees and make their meals each day is an economic boost in a dying area.
True.