Free Rent - Amazinging Idea

Artist gets probation for building secret mall apartment October 2, 2007 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The leader of an artists' cooperative has been sentenced to probation for illegally setting up a secret apartment inside the Providence Place Mall that was equipped with furniture and a video game system. Article Tools * PRINTER FRIENDLYPrinter friendly * E-MAILE-mail to a friend * RSS FEEDSR.I. RSS feed * RSS FEEDSAvailable RSS feeds * MOST E-MAILEDMost e-mailed * Share on DiggShare on Digg * Share on Facebook * Tag with Del.icio.us Save this article * powered by Del.icio.us More: * Globe City/Region stories | * Latest local news | * Globe front page | * Boston.com * Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | * Breaking News Alerts Michael Townsend, 36, said he and seven other artists built the apartment in a 750-square-foot loft in the parking garage four years ago and lived there for up to three weeks at a time while documenting mall life. The apartment included a sectional sofa and love seat, coffee and breakfast tables, chairs, lamps, rugs, paintings, a hutch filled with china, a waffle iron, TV and Sony Playstation 2 -- although a burglar broke in and stole the Playstation last spring, Townsend said. The artists built a cinderblock wall and nondescript utility door to keep the loft hidden from the outside world. There was no running water -- instead they used the mall bathrooms. Townsend said plans to make the loft "super-sweet" with laminated wood flooring and other perks fell apart last week after he and a visiting artist from Hong Kong walked into the room and were greeted by three security guards. He pleaded no contest to a trespassing charge. Mall spokesman Dante Bellini Jr. described the living space as little more than "an area with stuff in it." But Providence Police Major Stephen Campbell said he and other detectives were so intrigued they visited the apartment to see for themselves. "I was surprised at what he was able to accomplish," Campbell said. "But what he did was clearly criminal. The mall is private property."

very interesting.....but scary...and i would miss my bed