miLES, Repurposing Vacant NYC Storefronts for Short Term Rentals

miLES — made in Lower East Side — is a group that aims to repurpose some 200 empty, unused spaces in the Lower East Side of New York City by temporarily leasing them as meeting spaces for classes, events, and pop-up shops. Founder Eric Ho tells Fast Co. Exist that the service is like a “Zipcar or AirBnb for storefronts,” that’s trying to work with Lower East Side landlords “to capture the time between when they find the long-term tenant to occupy the space […] to bring back something valuable for the community.” In partnership with Fourth Arts Block, miLES will open its first storefront for three months at FABWORKS beginning April 1st, 2013. According to Fast Co. Exist, miLES is also in talks with a local coffee shop to rent the space after the business closes at 7pm.

image via miLES

via Fast Co. Exist