Difference between revisions of "Field Trips/5 Points Workshop"

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Message from MrFranceIsBacon to makers@lists.makerslocal.org on Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 4:34 PM, subject '[Makers] 5 Points Workshop Viewing Saturday Morning 10AM':
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From various notes on the 5Pts Shop:
  
I stopped by earlier today and talked to the current tenant and ran into the owner.  Owner seemed a little frazzle about the condition of the current warehouse in terms of condition / cleanlinessPretty sure he didn't want me to see the place at that time because the current tenant was cleaning up, but that's what surprise visits are for...that and leverageBut I would say it was about as clean as our current warehouse.  Anyways, it seems like he is willing to work something out.  He has 2 people coming in later this week to see the place as well.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures for you guys.
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The 5pt shop including the loft is over 4000 sqft (costing $850/mo)The 5pt shop is larger than our current shopIt could eat our shop and still have room.
  
Basically it is a 2800 square feet warehouse with 700 square feet of office space for lease in the 5-points area in Huntsville,AL for $850.00 per month.  
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There is A/C and heat in the office.  There is a small kitchen area.  2 bathrooms.  There is also a sink in the loft.  One of the bathrooms has a shower.  There is no A/C/ heating unit in the actual warehouse area.  But the current tenant says he was using a kerosene heater.  We may be able to even negotiate this issue.  Another con is a lack of insulation which could offset the savings in rent, but we can get a history of utility bills to assess that.      
  
There is also a loft in the warehouse. So add on maybe another 700+ square feet. Total sqft is probably over 3500 sqft. Don't quote me on that because I'm bad when it comes to measuring space with my eyes.  Anyways, it's a fairly large space.
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Tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, 4/19/11) we will be meeting at the current shop, at 6:30 pm, to take a field trip to the  [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=schiffmann+and+stevens+&aq=&sll=34.744998,-86.579175&sspn=0.007352,0.013937&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Stevens+Ave+NE+%26+Schiffman+St+NE,+Huntsville,+Madison,+Alabama+35801&ll=34.745015,-86.579175&spn=0.007317,0.013937&t=h&z=17 newly proposed shop] (yellowish warehouse on the corner). Afterwards there will be a vote. I want to personally encourage everyone to come out and see the new place, as I feel the pictures don't really do it justice.
  
There is A/C and heat in the office. There is a small kitchen area. 2 bathrooms.  There is also a sink in the loft.  One of the bathrooms has a shower. There is no A/C/ heating unit in the actual warehouse area.  But the current tenant says he was using a kerosene heater. We may be able to even negotiate this issue. Another con is a lack of insulation which could offset the savings in rent, but we can get a history of utility bills to assess that.      
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This is something that has to happen rather quickly. There is a meeting Wednesday afternoon with our current landlord and we need to know how people feel. There will also be a short discussion after the vote, if this passes, to determine if there is any kind of sweet-spot-deal to stay where we are. That is, if the current landlord wants to negotiate much lower than what we are paying now.
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We will not be sending ballots to multiple people. If you want to vote, you will send me your absentee ballot. I will have someone at the shop help me count the physical votes and will submit a physical vote for each absentee, sub identifying information. Absentee ballots will be accepted until 7:00 pm. After we are all back from our field trip and have voted -- we will count and release the results. I will retain all ballots, physical and absentee, for two weeks and then destroy them
  
Anyways, if you want to see the shop, meet [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=schiffmann+and+stevens+&aq=&sll=34.744998,-86.579175&sspn=0.007352,0.013937&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Stevens+Ave+NE+%26+Schiffman+St+NE,+Huntsville,+Madison,+Alabama+35801&ll=34.745015,-86.579175&spn=0.007317,0.013937&t=h&z=17 here] (yellowish warehouse on the corner) at 10:00 am on Saturday. 
 
  
If you do come, please do not say "this is a great place" or "this is better than what we have now" or anything positive along those lines.  Something along the lines as "this place needs a lot of work" or "asking how much? and following up with Really?...uh okay." will be great.  The idea is to let the owner think you are not that interested unless he willing to make concessions.  We want to have some kind of leverage going into this...so act disinterested in the place.  We can discuss how we really feel about the shop once we get back.
 
  
If you are coming...shoot the list (makers@lists.makerslocal.org) an email.
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Previously did a field trip on 4/9. General assessment was that there would be work required to repair the driveway, loft structure and general cleanup. But otherwise, the bigger space and lower cost was a plus.
  
 
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Revision as of 09:07, 19 April 2011

From various notes on the 5Pts Shop:

The 5pt shop including the loft is over 4000 sqft (costing $850/mo). The 5pt shop is larger than our current shop. It could eat our shop and still have room.

There is A/C and heat in the office. There is a small kitchen area. 2 bathrooms. There is also a sink in the loft. One of the bathrooms has a shower. There is no A/C/ heating unit in the actual warehouse area. But the current tenant says he was using a kerosene heater. We may be able to even negotiate this issue. Another con is a lack of insulation which could offset the savings in rent, but we can get a history of utility bills to assess that.

Tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, 4/19/11) we will be meeting at the current shop, at 6:30 pm, to take a field trip to the newly proposed shop (yellowish warehouse on the corner). Afterwards there will be a vote. I want to personally encourage everyone to come out and see the new place, as I feel the pictures don't really do it justice.

This is something that has to happen rather quickly. There is a meeting Wednesday afternoon with our current landlord and we need to know how people feel. There will also be a short discussion after the vote, if this passes, to determine if there is any kind of sweet-spot-deal to stay where we are. That is, if the current landlord wants to negotiate much lower than what we are paying now.

We will not be sending ballots to multiple people. If you want to vote, you will send me your absentee ballot. I will have someone at the shop help me count the physical votes and will submit a physical vote for each absentee, sub identifying information. Absentee ballots will be accepted until 7:00 pm. After we are all back from our field trip and have voted -- we will count and release the results. I will retain all ballots, physical and absentee, for two weeks and then destroy them


Previously did a field trip on 4/9. General assessment was that there would be work required to repair the driveway, loft structure and general cleanup. But otherwise, the bigger space and lower cost was a plus.


Directions to 5 Points Workshop:

  • From 565 (going East or West) exit to Oakwood Avenue.
  • Turn South to Andrew Jackson Way (intersects Oakwood immediately East of intersection of 565 and Oakwood).
  • Turn West to Stevens Ave.
  • Arrive at intersection of Schiffmann and Stevens.

Photographs of Shop: