The hunt for a new space!!!!!!

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Ben Humpherys

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Nov 10, 2012, 8:00:46 PM11/10/12
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So I've spent the last hour or two looking around online at different properties in Mesa. There are a decent variety, but only really one option if we want to stay in downtown mesa. I'm told our current size is 2400 sq.ft.

Downtown Mesa Locations

108 W Main St.


It has 4260 sq. ft. It is right on main street still, even more into the heart of downtown. On the downside, it may not have a good place to fit a workshop. This is probably the first place to investigate. 
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37 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft:
  7000 sq ft + 2,000 sq ft warehouse + 500 sq ft basement
Property Address: 37 W Main St
Contact: John Morehouse
Phone: 602/909-6194
For Lease: Yes $3,500 
Comments: Prime downtown Main Street location.  1/2 block from Mesa Arts Center.  16' ceilings with huge open space.
Vehicle access at rear.  Great 1920's building.  Red Brick with stamped metal ceiling.

No idea what the "$3500" means for leasing it. Probably the monthly fee, which works out to $4.42/sq.ft/year (apparently thats how many properties are priced. o.O)
Sounds absolutly perfect, on the face of it. If it was built in the '20s, though, I would be very concerned about the power situation there too. Depends on how recently it was rewired.

Thats freakin' huge though.

******
 310 S Macdonald St

Avail Sq Ft:
 3,900 sq ft 
Property Address: 310 S Macdonald St
Contact: Rex Griswold
Phone: 480-244-7222
For Lease: Yes $1,500 per month
For Sale:  Yes $390,000
Comments: Both parcels for sale - 650 sq ft restaurant and 3,900 sq ft retail on nearly 1 acre of land


It's cheap, and it would be a moderate space increase. But it doesn't look nearly as safe, even though it is only a mile south. The building has bars on the windows.....

*****

19 N Robson St

Avail Sq Ft: 2,500 sq ft, 3,000 sq ft space and an optional basement area of 2,500 sq ft available
Contact: David Pickron
Phone: 602/525-7400
For Sale: Yes negotiable
For Lease:  Yes negotiable  
Comments: 2,500 sq ft space can be used for light kitchen.  Has stained concrete floors and original wood barreled ceiling.  Perfect for sandwich shop, salon, or gallery. Store fronts on Robson Street.  Second space (3,000 sq ft) has high open barrel ceilings and would be perfect for a showroom, gallery or brewery.  There is an optional basement space available at additional cost -2,500 sq ft.


That is literally right around the corner from us. Not a big space increase, unless we went for the basement as well. Basement + second space = 5500 ft^2 

*****

 265 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft:
 940-3,500 sq ft 
Property Address: 265 W Main St
Contact: Steven or Greg
JS & G Properties
Phone: 480-834-7647
For Lease: Yes Negotiable
Comments: Prime downtown corner location.  "Threshold" to Downtown Center.  Future light rail stop. Great visibility, vintage urban atmosphere.

This is also literally right around the corner. 

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 130 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft:
 2470 sq ft
Property Address: 130 W Main St
Contact: Laurent Teichman
47 W Main Street
Phone: 480-827-9770
For Lease: Yes $1,800 per month
Comments: Great downtown location on north side of Main Street.  Original 1926 tim roof. 2 covered parking spaces included.

This is that vacant space immediately next door. Maybe the landlord would consider combining the two? That would double our space, though not necessarily our power....

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209 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft:  4900 sq ft
Property Address:  209 W Main St (approximately half the property)
Contact: Jim Passey

24 N Center St
Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone: 480-837-8181
FAX:  480-834-5383
For Lease: Yes $2,865 per month
Available June1 ,2012

Kitty corner across Robson and main from us. Dunno much else, beyond it being double the size of our current space.

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39 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft: 2,000 sq ft + 2,000 sq ft basement (Rear Entry)
Property Address: 39 W Main St (In Back)
Contact:  John Morehouse
2205 N Val Vista Rd
Phone: 602/909-6194
For Lease: Yes $750 pe mo. + tax
Comments:  2,000 sq ft rear entry and 2,000 sq ft basement

Closer to the arts center! $750 sounds suspiciously cheap though.

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59 S Macdonald St.

Avail Sq Ft: 3,600
Contact: Rex Griswold
CPI - Commercial Properties, Inc.
Phone: 480-244-7222
For Sale: Yes $200,000
For Lease: Yes $1,500 per month
Comments: Ground floor 3,600 sq ft and 600 sq ft upstairs storage.

It's less than one block off main st. and is about 75% larger.

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27 S Robson St

Avail Sq Ft: 10,000 sq ft
Contact: Marina Radman
30 E Vine St
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: 602/377/5639
For Lease: Yes $0.60/sq ft per month for first year
Comments: All or part available for lease.  Private parking.  Negotiable.

Doesn't say what the price is AFTER the first year. But it is immediately to the south of the subway. Though perhaps not attractive enough to get walk-ins.

***

So thats what retail space is available downtown, according to http://www.downtownmesa.com/index.php/retail_properties

Anyone walked by any of these places? Thoughts? Volunteers to talk to the real-estate agents?


If we want to move outside of downtown mesa, there is an abundance of industrial facilities with hundreds of amps of electricity and some even have 3 phase power. But they would be off the beaten track, and I think most people prefer to stay in downtown if possible. 



Jacob Rosenthal

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Nov 10, 2012, 8:11:31 PM11/10/12
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Having done this research previously, some advice.

Theres no way we can afford to change occupancy on a building. Most times it would take 10s of thousands of dollars of upgrades to fire suppression, bathrooms, ADA compliance, etc.

In Mesa our existing occupancy, and what we've been told to stay in, is B3 occupancy. It means we can have something like 1 person per 30sq ft (or about 76 people in our current space) and also welding gasses, tools, small manufacturing, and all the other crazy shit we get up to.

In other cities your'e going to have to do some research to figure out what that is. For instance we've looked at stuff in Tempe specced 'warehouse' but that means you can only have something like 1 person per 100sqft (from memory) or 24 people total in 2400sq ft!

So after you look at size, location, and price, you need to find something thats ALREADY in an occupancy we can just move into.

Ryan Rix

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Nov 10, 2012, 8:41:19 PM11/10/12
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This property (37 w Main) is under some apartments (one of which our
champion Jeremy rents, incidentally) so we'd be limited on noise and mess we
could make which IMO rules this space out until we buy out all the flats on
the top. (hint hint) I love this space, but it seems like we're a long way
off from being able to consider it.

Further, this discussion comes up every few months, that we should start
looking for another space. Then we rearrange things and clean out the shit
no one cares about and we have three more months of a nicely supplied
hackerspace. Our space hasn't grown terribly over the time since we last had
this discussion, and I wonder if we even need a new space yet. There's
plenty of time left on our lease still, but I think the discussion of "the
hunt for a new space" should hinge on whether the membership wants and the
membership wants to apy for a new space.

It should also hinge on what Mary, our current landlord is willing to do to
let us stay. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind (and would make it worth our
while for) two more yeas of guaranteed occupancy as the light rail
construction kicks up dust and destroys downtown Mesa's business interest
and foot traffic. Hell, even a single year lease is a good source of income
for a space that will almost assuredly stay empty if we leave.

There are parts of this discussion that haven't happened yet. Can our board
open a dialog with our landlord about renewing our Lease? Can our membership
chime in on whether we *want* a new space yet? Who would be willing to up
their membership to cover an increase in rent? Who would be willing to
follow through with real estate agents?

Ryan

On Sat 10 November 2012 17:00:46 Ben Humpherys wrote:
> *37 W Main St
>
> Avail Sq Ft:* 7000 sq ft + 2,000 sq ft warehouse + 500 sq ft basement
> *Property Address: *37 W Main St
> *Contact: John Morehouse
> **Phone:* 602/909-6194
> *For Lease: *Yes $3,500
> *Comments: *Prime downtown Main Street location. 1/2 block from Mesa
Arts
> Center. 16' ceilings with huge open space.
> Vehicle access at rear. Great 1920's building. Red Brick with stamped
> metal ceiling.
>
> No idea what the "$3500" means for leasing it. Probably the monthly fee,
> which works out to $4.42/sq.ft/year (apparently thats how many properties
> are priced. o.O)
> Sounds absolutly perfect, on the face of it. If it was built in the '20s,
> though, I would be very concerned about the power situation there too.
> Depends on how recently it was rewired.
>
> Thats freakin' huge though.
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Jerry Davis

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Nov 10, 2012, 9:05:48 PM11/10/12
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So ... did I read right that the space immediately adjancent to what we have now is vacant?
If so, would that space have the same power as we have now? Wouldn't that effectively double the power we have now? And double the space?

jerry


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Ben Humpherys

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Nov 10, 2012, 9:35:26 PM11/10/12
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Yea, Ryan is right: there are some missing conversations that should happen. We need more information about our current situation first.

Why doesn't someone (a board member?) start up a conversation about what options we have when the lease expires. Ryan's point about the light-rail being disruptive is a very good one. And there is also the potential possibility of expanding into the unit next to us. It is hard to imagine ever outgrowing those two combined. 

Once we know what the landlord can offer us, then a discussion about whether we want to move at all will be much more productive. 

Jacob Rosenthal

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Nov 10, 2012, 9:38:34 PM11/10/12
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Jerry,

No, nothing vacant immediately next door to us.

Jeremy Leung

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Nov 10, 2012, 10:07:19 PM11/10/12
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Our current lease goes until May 2013.  It never hurts to look around and get ideas for possibilities though and I encourage everyone to do so.  I tour different places as I stumble across them and have talked to the owner for the 37 West Main Street location already.  His primary concern has been the noise because of his apartment tenants living above.

We do need to know about our current location and whether or not it's still a possibility to extend.  I contacted Mary about this a couple weeks ago so we could get that answered and she wants to meet up to talk about the possibilities pretty soon.  She's out of town a lot so I'm locking her down to a date.  She sounds pretty positive though and has liked us as a tenant.  I will update the group once I get a fixed answer from her on that.

Will Bradley

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Nov 10, 2012, 10:13:24 PM11/10/12
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I never communicated directly with the landlord, but my impression is that we won't get anything we don't ask for in terms of contract stuff, and some stuff will be outright rejected (esp if it costs money.) She's been quite friendly with stuff like our doors, mission, tools, etc (and no complaints about growing corn in the parking lot!) but if we're going to get $5000 worth of electric work out of her it's going to take a solid proposal, probably giving her something in return (a 3-4 year lease? We pay for half the electric work? Something?)

Backstory: the owner of our location is Tibshraney Trust, a name you'll recognize if you live in Chandler. Mary is just the landlord and has some personal connection to the history of the building, if I understand correctly (her biggest concern to date is the hardwood floors, IIRC.) So, being owned by a trust fund, I figure they're going to care less about helping tenants than ensuring stable income. If they do spend $5k on us, it's going to need very good justification, and most other tenants likely won't need 3-phase 220v ;) -- I'm in favor of building the case and presenting it, just letting you know where I think they're coming from.


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Will Bradley

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Nov 10, 2012, 10:19:37 PM11/10/12
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Oh, another point: Jeremy currently has his name on the lease alongside HSL's, so he's on the hook if we go belly-up. I'd like to get him off the hook so it's just HSL on the lease, but if we do that it can reduce our bargaining position slightly.

Mike Bushroe

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Nov 10, 2012, 11:16:46 PM11/10/12
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We can't move somewhere a little further west? Please?

Mike

Will Bradley

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Nov 10, 2012, 11:17:56 PM11/10/12
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Your suggestions welcome :) http://www.loopnet.com/Arizona_Industrial-Properties-For-Lease/


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Nate Caine

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Nov 11, 2012, 3:27:17 PM11/11/12
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****

 130 W Main St

Avail Sq Ft:
 2470 sq ft
Property Address: 130 W Main St
Contact: Laurent Teichman
47 W Main Street
Phone: 480-827-9770
For Lease: Yes $1,800 per month
Comments: Great downtown location on north side of Main Street.  Original 1926 tim roof. 2 covered parking spaces included.

This is that vacant space immediately next door. Maybe the landlord would consider combining the two? That would double our space, though not necessarily our power....

****


Immediately next door to us is 138 W Main St.  Still Life Studios.  (Used to be a paper store)
Then 136 W Main St.  Pomeroys.  Also various business offices upstairs.
Then the alley way.  
Then 130 W Main St (mentioned above).  It was the Jewelry store that recently moved down the block.

 

Jacob Rosenthal

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Nov 11, 2012, 3:28:00 PM11/11/12
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130 looks to be taken, contractors in there renovating it
Weve asked them whats up but theyre contractors, they dont know



 

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David Huerta

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Nov 11, 2012, 3:32:17 PM11/11/12
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Zoning?


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Nate Caine

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Nov 11, 2012, 3:36:02 PM11/11/12
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(1) Space.  It's crowded but not too cramped.  Going a little more vertical helps to use the otherwise wasted air space above our heads.  Such as the metal shelves in electrical.  The current space limits our growth (which may or may not be an issue).  The upstairs "storage" area is a hopeless mess.  Never should have been built.

(2) Electrical.  This is an on-going pain in the ass.  I don't see the landlord doing anything to help out here.  Otherwise they would have been making moderately priced electrical upgrades every decade.  Most this stuff hasn't been upgrades since the 1960s.  Some of it is approaching 90 years old.  Your talking tens-of-thousands of dollars to do it right.

(3) Plumbing.  Not a major issue, but certainly inconvenient.  Would be nice to have HOT water and a decent shop sink to clean things up.  That little bathroom is barely sufficient for a small retail store.

Ben Humpherys

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Nov 11, 2012, 7:04:11 PM11/11/12
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Bummer, guess I was mistaken about there being a vacancy next door.

Tens of thousands of dollars to totally fix the wiring is a real concern. Space will be restricting our growth, especially in the shop. Just take a look at the discussion about woodworking here. And really, it's the shop that has the most demanding power requirements. Which i guess leaves some big questions:

1) How large of a community do we want to become? How rapidly do we want to grow?

2) How important is the shop? How important is it to expand the selection of power tools? How big/capable is big/capable enough?

3) How important is our location on Main St and the associated foot traffic?

4) If forced to choose, which would be more important: A location in Downtown Mesa with its foot traffic, future light-rail, and close proximity to other arts/culture things? Or the floor-space and power to support a much larger and more capable shop for people to use for their projects?

Jerry Davis

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Nov 11, 2012, 8:34:03 PM11/11/12
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1) How large of a community do we want to become? How rapidly do we want to grow?

large allows us to get bigger and better, but not at the expense of being so big that no one knows each other.

2) How important is the shop? How important is it to expand the selection of power tools? How big/capable is big/capable enough?

very important, I would think. whoever got the laser knew how important having tools are. that had to be a big purchase especially for its time.
if tools are not good enough they won't get used. they should be good enough to do a good job, but not so good that we blow our budget on 1 or 2 tools.

3) How important is our location on Main St and the associated foot traffic?

I have not seen a lot of foot traffic that actually brought in people to the fold. there might have been a few, but I would think that proximity to the rail line (say within a couple of blocks) would be nice to have, but not necessary.

4) If forced to choose, which would be more important: A location in Downtown Mesa with its foot traffic, future light-rail, and close proximity to other arts/culture things? Or the floor-space and power to support a much larger and more capable shop for people to use for their projects?

floor space and power to support our primary goal. to make things.



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Will Bradley

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Nov 11, 2012, 9:01:29 PM11/11/12
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Regarding the foot traffic and space vs Main Street point, there have been two (and soon, three) hackerspaces where you can drive to an industrial district and work on your project there. Maker Bench is failed/dormant, Ideas Squared is taking a long time getting started, and TechShop will arrive very shortly in a nice location we nearly moved to: http://www.techshop.ws/press_releases.html?&action=detail&press_release_id=36

I don't have hard numbers on how many members we get due to our location. But, if you discovered HeatSync and became a member because of its location, your input is valuable here!

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Jerry Davis

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Nov 11, 2012, 9:22:41 PM11/11/12
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no. I personally found hsl on the internet, as I usually didn't haunt downtown mesa.
I used to live in mesa 6 years ago, but moved to the near west valley after that.

Will Bradley

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Nov 11, 2012, 9:24:32 PM11/11/12
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Curious, how on the internet? What kind of search, or where was it mentioned?

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Mike Bushroe

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Nov 11, 2012, 9:28:41 PM11/11/12
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The opposite for me. I found out about it by web search, and the location is not at all convenient. However, being in a small business, store front area (main street) with other business and restaurants nearby probably does make it more pleasant, sociable area than a warehouse district.

Mike 

Jerry Davis

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Nov 11, 2012, 9:45:39 PM11/11/12
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I was getting into the arduino at the time, i just googled "arduino phoenix"
and found you.

Ryan Rix

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Nov 11, 2012, 10:03:16 PM11/11/12
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I beg to differ. Having a transit line reach us from ASU is IMO vitally important. I still lament that Route 40 no longer goes all the way to Tempe. Feeding with students from ASU's engineering programs is really important, IMO. There are a lot of bright minds over in Tempe that we cannot rescue because they don't have a way to reach us and I can't be everyone's personal taxi :)

If we were to move anywhere, I'd want it to be a direct route from one of the major universities.


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Jerry Davis

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Nov 11, 2012, 11:24:38 PM11/11/12
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well i do agree with that. but what I meant was that we don't have to be on main street. a couple blocks walking to the train station would be ok.
anyone know where exactly the station would be?

Will Bradley

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Nov 11, 2012, 11:42:29 PM11/11/12
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Prescott Ogden

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Nov 12, 2012, 12:11:36 AM11/12/12
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I agree that the storefront hasn't really attracted very many people, but public transit access is important, especially those of us living in the car free world of tomorrow, today!

Our current location is pretty well placed for this, with the upcoming light rail expansion. It also has practical (<1km) access to the 30, the 40, the 45, the 112, the 120, both metro links, and the BUZZ.

Industrial Parks typically don't have great bus access, and its the kind of bus that doesn't run late at night or on the weekend, when most Heatsync activity happens.

I also think its important to be close (walking distance) to art and culture, cool non-lab places to hang, and most importantly, food.

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JR

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Nov 12, 2012, 1:25:25 AM11/12/12
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On Sunday, November 11, 2012 10:11:38 PM UTC-7, Prescott Ogden wrote:

I agree that the storefront hasn't really attracted very many people, but public transit access is important, especially those of us living in the car free world of tomorrow, today!


You weren't in the lab on Friday then.  Lots of foot traffic.  And while I found HSL by wandering across their kickstarter for the laser while we were still in the back of Gangplank, I know of others like Doug Shade who found it by literally walking past the front door.

Asking if we want to be where there's a lot of foot traffic is like asking why Dillinger robbed banks.  You want to be there  because that's where the people are.

I've posted a link to this before as I've seen it on Craigslist:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/bfd/3366322542.html
Sounds great, but the more I watch the foot traffic, the more hesitant to jump to there I'd be.

 

Will Bradley

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Nov 12, 2012, 1:31:44 AM11/12/12
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Info for posterity: one finalist space we almost moved to was located in the industrial park just south of the Sycamore rail station (behind Filiberto's and billiards.) I'm sure it would have been a fine location, but I'm not sure where we'd be today if we moved there. No coffee shop or restaurant choices nearby, certainly...

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Gadget

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Nov 12, 2012, 2:01:08 AM11/12/12
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Store front is going to get made over. at least the windows are. I have been rolling the idea around and the how I'm actually going to get it cleaned up and making it presentable. I just haven't had time with school. I intend to get it done this winter break.

As for foot traffic, we get a lot. Most of them are one stops but we have a few members and non members who come in because a friend walking by saw the place and told them about it.

I don't think we really need to look for a new place at this moment. Yes we can use a few upgrades, but our current location is prime and if we can work out a deal about upgrading the electrical, even if its just the workshop alone, that might hold us over for a couple more years. i think we just need to do a serious clean out and a tear apart night to free up some space. We have plenty now it just isn't well organized .

Luis Montes

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:10:53 AM11/12/12
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I think we're at least a thousand square feet to small just for what we know we want to do today.  Aside from extending the wood shop and other areas with machinery, it would be helpful to have more open area for things like hackathons and presentations.

That said, in my opinion the priority of any relocation should be:
1. Stay somewhere in or very close by to downtown Mesa.
2. Get a bigger space.

Would be a shame for us to sink a bunch of money into upgrading the power, if that money could be spent on a bigger space that already meets our power requirements.

I also think foot traffic is a good thing.  What's cool is that while it helps, if it slows down because of construction it doesn't kill us.  That's a bargaining chip that other people competing for space downtown don't have.  It can help us negotiate a contract on something bigger and better at least over the next two years.
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Short Tie

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Nov 12, 2012, 1:40:24 PM11/12/12
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Just a couple thoughts on the topic.
More space is always nice. And it will allow HSL to grow and people to do bigger, cooler and more amazing things. Organizations tend to grow to fit and then over fill whatever space they settle into.

Location is going to be an issue for someone, no matter where you go. I think first and foremost moving should be about finding a location where HSL can do all that its members (visiters maybe too) want to do. Where that location is will factor in after that. If that doing includes eating at close restaurants, and having street traffic stop by and see our awesomeness than that will also affect the location.

If we go to an industrial area, not all of those spaces have office space, or A/C. I love the metal shop and wood shop, but if I can't sit in some A/C to code up a hack, work on my embedded stuff, or watch a present, than I am much less likely to do it.

HSL has a number of different things going on, so finding something that can meet all those needs is a challenge. Keep those different uses in mind as you look at space. An industrial park will be great for metal, wood, automotive and fiberglass (I know you people are just waiting for space), but for after hack socializing/eatery, fabric, software and embedded, maybe not as much. The store front may not be a big draw for some of us, but it puts us in a place where you can feel safe leaving at 1 am, and not worrying about what is hanging out in the shadows.

John Norman

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Nov 12, 2012, 8:00:48 PM11/12/12
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We've been through this at 23b. Our choices ended up being between a very industrial place with more space, and a smaller unit that was about a block from downtown (Fullerton, about 5 miles North of Disneyland in O.C.) We settled on the smaller unit because:

1. It had good access to lots of restaurants, a liquor store, and was in a nice complex.
2. The other place was clearly full of sketchy tenants. I would not send a lone female there after dark.

Our space has a pretty good sized shop floor and a very small office. I wish we had more space for coding lounge/classroom and a kitchen-like area with a slop sink. We are fortunate to have 200A 3-phase power, so running an extra circuit is easy.

We are a much less formal group, so scaling up is something we talk about and then everyone decides that they don't want to take it on as a part-time job and we just keep renting here. From what I've seen, Heatsync has a good structure in place for growth and continuity,  so moving up would be easier.

I think there is value in being within a couple of blocks of an active downtown. It definitely brings in people that might not come otherwise, and being in a high-traffic pedestrian area is good for security.  You also have the advantage of being "100% legal" for large, public events, or at least being in an area that the city wants to see you succeed in.

There are cities that aren't cool, and they can definitely nitpick you to death. (We have a theater group a few blocks away that managed to get shut down because they didn't play nice with the city).  On the flip side, some places could really care less what you do in your out-of-the-way warehouse. It just depends.

If you could get just the electrical service upgraded or a sub-panel put in, adding outlets to the shop would be pretty easy and that would let you keep your existing space longer.  3-Phase isn't all that necessary, as VFDs for smaller machines are cheap now.  A 50A 220V single-phase circuit is really needed if you want to run any industrial-sized welder, however.

Arclight

Michael Mathers

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Nov 12, 2012, 9:07:50 PM11/12/12
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I don't have hard numbers on how many members we get due to our location. But, if you discovered HeatSync and became a member because of its location, your input is valuable here!

 I just joined after seeing it for the first time last week so I guess I'm qualified. :-)   Tools are the most important I think, but the location is kind of cool.  I think the important part is that the inside is warm and inviting and cozy feeling.  I would like it less if it felt like my garage (cold, hard and grey).  I would want to feel reasonably secure and safe.  This might be particularly important for those of the female persuasion.

JR

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Nov 12, 2012, 9:20:51 PM11/12/12
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What would be a good solution would be the photo studio next door wanted to get rid of the back half of their space and we could punch a door through the wall and upgrade the power.

Not that I want them to move, but it might be worth inquiring about- even if it only gets mentioned to Mary at the next meeting. 

Ben Humpherys

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Nov 12, 2012, 9:31:01 PM11/12/12
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The downtown mesa association, whose website I got most of those listings, have a page encouraging businesses yo contact them if they want to move downtown, and they promise to help find a good location. I think reaching out and talking to them after talking to Mary could be extremely productive. They probably have connections with all of the landlords.

David Huerta

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Nov 12, 2012, 9:49:24 PM11/12/12
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On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 12:11 AM, Prescott Ogden <og...@pres.co.tt> wrote:

I agree that the storefront hasn't really attracted very many people, but public transit access is important, especially those of us living in the car free world of tomorrow, today!

...and visitors from other parts of the world living the car free world of New York when visiting Mesa. ;)

That being said though, an established nonprofit is better off having a visible presence as part of a more condensed and connected community of business and institutions in a city center. Being in an island of an industrial park decreases the probability of building relationships with folks from other nonprofits, businesses, and the city who would have resources and contacts that would help further long-term goals, especially education-related goals which were brought up in the HSL election. People don't respond the same way to an anonymous email inquiry from random person in where-is-that-industrial-park-again the same way they would to someone that they've had lunch with.

Will Bradley

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Nov 12, 2012, 10:48:37 PM11/12/12
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Indeed Ben, I believe either the DMA or the City of Mesa EDC were instrumental in helping us find our current location.


On Mon, Nov 12, 2012 at 7:31 PM, Ben Humpherys <moog...@gmail.com> wrote:
The downtown mesa association, whose website I got most of those listings, have a page encouraging businesses yo contact them if they want to move downtown, and they promise to help find a good location. I think reaching out and talking to them after talking to Mary could be extremely productive. They probably have connections with all of the landlords.

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Austin Kipp

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Nov 15, 2012, 1:35:11 PM11/15/12
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I Think we need a bigger shop we have been slowly getting rid of are wood working tools as we build on to the metal shop. and we need power what were using for 240v is not acceptable I should know i put it in. it was suppose to be for use for one week it has been a year and a half.

I had 7 electricians out to look at just the back best quote is $4500.00 for just the back and laser (It has to be done under a new service it would be 3 phase 208v)

JR the photo studio is in the Pomeroy building (two load bearing walls from are shop) and the power would need a build out as well.

I'm waiting on a call back but I'm looking into 1346 W. Southern Ave. Its right on the street it has a lot of food near it its close to MCC and across  from the mall. Its The old Goodwill location. looking in to cost power and zoning.

Im willing to look at any location that the group is interested in so we know what were getting in to .

What ever we decide to do stay or go we will need to spent money that's the main reason  i think we need to move.

Jerry Davis

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Nov 15, 2012, 1:53:03 PM11/15/12
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thats a nice big building. how is the power situation there?


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Jasper Nance

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Nov 15, 2012, 1:54:54 PM11/15/12
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Scary neighborhood though.... used to live right there. Lots of police all over always. Not sure if I would want to be there at 2 AM alone...

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Jasper Nance - KE7PHI
Creative and Scientific Imagery
http://www.nebarnix.com/

Robert Bell

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Nov 15, 2012, 2:07:36 PM11/15/12
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This space has been vacant for a few years.


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Paul Hickey

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Nov 15, 2012, 2:14:00 PM11/15/12
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I lived there also. Lots of break ins to vehicles and my cousins business

Paul Hickey
Sent from my mobile device

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Jerry Davis

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Nov 15, 2012, 2:16:12 PM11/15/12
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yeah. and google maps says that it is about 1/4 mile from light rail station.

Will Bradley

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Nov 15, 2012, 3:54:11 PM11/15/12
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Incidentally, I'm really surprised that our current area is so crime free. There are weirdos wandering around from the halfway house thingy around the block and general bum activity, but I've been accosted less on Main than any random day on Mill. Maybe it's that we're a block away from the police station? Late night bars have also greatly improved foot traffic the past few months.

Maybe it's the aura of the antique shops...

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Ryan Mcdermott

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Nov 15, 2012, 4:04:01 PM11/15/12
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Somebody stole a six pack of beer out of my jeep the other night.  Also some coffee creamer.

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Corey Renner

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Nov 15, 2012, 4:05:18 PM11/15/12
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I bet the beer tasted like shit with the creamer in it.

c

Ryan Mcdermott

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Nov 15, 2012, 4:06:16 PM11/15/12
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Also it had meth in it, I'm sure.

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Jasper Nance

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Nov 15, 2012, 4:06:48 PM11/15/12
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Keeping a six pack of meth in your jeep is just asking for trouble

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Will Bradley

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Nov 15, 2012, 4:08:51 PM11/15/12
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Did the creamy beer have meth in it before, or after coming into possession of said thief?

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Prescott Ogden

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Nov 15, 2012, 10:09:14 PM11/15/12
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Well being 200 ft from the police station dies hurt.

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John Meyer

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Nov 16, 2012, 1:11:20 AM11/16/12
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The building where HiFi Sales used to be may still be available.  It on the north-west of Main and Extension.  I don't know the size, but is much larger than the current space. Also electrical should be in fairly good shape because of all the audio, video and TVs

John

Sent from John's iPad
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Doug Shade

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Nov 16, 2012, 1:50:04 AM11/16/12
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I found HeatSync on foot - only by virtue of its location. : )

I love the location - for many reasons.

I once belonged to a church that always kept complaining that they never had enough money... and it occurred to me that maybe it was just that we had too much church.

If we *must* grow then splitting the space seems like reasonable compromise:
140 Main - Is reserved for Clean Processes and Public Encouraged - No membership required (as now)
-software
-electronics
-textiles
-3D printing
-lectures / classes
-reclaim back area (new mill area) to video production and podcasting
-reclaim back area (old mill area) to photo studio / industrial photography
-reclaim back area (welding booth) to screen printing 

Warehouse Location (with luck, somewhere near 140 Main) - Dirty Processes, Certified/Trained Members Only (or Guest with Member Hosts)
-machine shop
-wood shop
-welding booth
-paint booth
-automotive yard
-experiment garden
-brewery
-boat storage (I still think a boat is an excellent idea)
-burning man prep
-model rocket motor testing
-small fusion reactor


Jeremy Davis

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Nov 16, 2012, 11:50:24 AM11/16/12
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I don't think I could agree with 2 locations. I think we need "One ring to rule them all!"

Will Bradley

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Nov 26, 2012, 11:46:15 AM11/26/12
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Indeed, anyone can set up tables/chairs/wifi on Main St. Our mission has been to bring real tools to Main St, so I wouldn't want to abandon that. (Competing with coworking spaces or industrial-district makerspaces isn't interesting to me; if you want such a space, they aren't hard to find even in Phoenix.)





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