It started as a sworn secret between eight New England artists. In 2003, Michael Townsend and seven friends moved into the Providence Place Mall. They'd discovered an empty 750 square-foot loft space. They hauled up furniture - a couch, a PlayStation, TV, waffle-maker. Hauled up two tons of cinder blocks for an apartment wall. In 2007, mall security discovered the apartment. Townsend was arrested and banned from the mall. He named no names.