It’s interesting where squatter’s put down their stuff, these days.
The days of a patch of land or a disused residence are passing into the mists of time to allow for more upmarket, expensive real estate.
The moving-in of squatting groups into restaurant/retail units in London for example that cost millions to rent, is an example of a more premium sort of activism that hopes to capitalise on location and clientele to get its point across.
I’m sure if the squatters at the York & Albany in Camden had been successful, they would of passed over a few latte’s in favour of their cause (whatever it is, as it isn’t clear what anyone believes anymore when it’s so obvious). In actuality, they weren’t able to open their own cafe – however informal – for free.
The rents are high if it’s the only place going on a plot of land which isn’t available anywhere else (at times, with views not seen everywhere else).
The market is tight if it has to be just right, and this is a travail experienced by many who could just open up anywhere if they were given the same opportunities as the ‘eco-SAS’, who just seem to try it anywhere.
However, those such opportunities don’t exist and the places where restaurants, hoteliers, and the like want to set down their roots are hard to come by. It appears the same is also true for the opportunists in our midst.