In May 2024, The New York Times featured Higher Grounds Trading Co. owner Chris Treter in a story about how communities are responding to rising housing costs and gentrification through cooperative development. Faced with the challenge of employees being unable to find affordable housing in Traverse City, Chris joined local attorney Kate Redman and other community members to help develop Commongrounds, a community-owned mixed-use cooperative.

The feature explores how nearly 500 local residents invested $1.3 million toward the project, helping make possible a $20 million, 47,000-square-foot development that includes income-based apartments, businesses, community spaces, a performing arts center, coworking space, a preschool, and a coffee training center. The story highlights how the same community-focused values that guide Higher Grounds can extend beyond coffee, demonstrating the potential for local ownership and collaborative investment to address challenges facing the people who live and work in Northern Michigan.