Setting up for first Devon Community Market.

Soundstage, first community market. Neither Annie Zander nor Debra Silverstein cared that locating this in the corner on Washtenaw and Devon would aim the music directly at the residential housing. Every time this lot is used for anything other than parking, the residents find out when the set-up starts. Neither the alderman nor the Chamber of Commerce nor the Bank ever bother to communicate with the residents most affected by their plans.

Soundstage speakers and amplifiers. These were strategically placed to draw maximum attention to the market’s presence. Look at the soundstage page and you can imagine how intrusive this was for the neighbors.

Mattresses dumped outside first community market. You’d think someone from the city or the alderman’s office would have had this trucked away before the market opened. Unfortunately, the E-W alley north of Devon has become a dumping ground.

Community Market garbage.

More garbage from the Community Market.

More garbage from the Community Market. I did speak to Mary Arendts about this and she tried to prevent and eliminate future dumps like this. She was partially successful but you can see the kind of mess the immediate neighbors have to contend with, and it does attract rats.

August 2014 Community Market, 5:15 p. Most days there were more people than this, but the 4,000 figure given by Silverstein is simply inaccurate.