Zero Empty Spaces has activated 34 vacant commercial spaces across five states, primarily as affordable working-artist studios, according to an Aug. 10 announcement. The company works with property owners to temporarily occupy vacant space while permanent leasing efforts continue and is preparing to open its first California location in Berkeley.
Evan Snow and Andrew Martineau, founders of the Fort Lauderdale-based company, said their approach transforms vacancy from a passive condition into an active phase in the life of a property. “Vacancy is often treated as a passive condition: Everyone waits for the next conventional tenant while the space remains dark,” Martineau said. “We believe vacancy can be an active phase in the life of a property. A vacant storefront can support an artist, help a small business test a concept, generate meaningful community activity, improve a district’s image and make the property more attractive to its eventual permanent tenant.”
Martineau described Zero Empty Spaces as a for-profit social-impact company where artists and participating businesses pay a flat monthly occupancy fee that includes their space and utilities. He said, “We take no commission from artwork sales. On the property side, we generally operate through a master lease or license-style structure… We ask the property owner to provide the vacant space at a deeply reduced rate, often with no base rent.” Snow added that their minimum space size requirement is 3,000 square feet, but they are flexible depending on market demand…