Potential HackSpace Venues

[Amr]

Since the announcement last week, we've had a browse around the internet for suitable venues that could host the HackSpace. Richard found the following:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/coworking-office-space-available/79267715

It's a shared office space located in Headingly (with very easy access), where you can hire out desk space, meeting rooms and storage space. I called the person responsible and here is a summary what's available.

• The membership options described in the ad are per person/desk and so would be too prohibitive for us.
  
• We can hire out meeting rooms. They have rooms that cater from anywhere between 4 and 100 people. If we assume we need space for 10-15 people and will meet up Tuesday evenings and Saturday all day, they can offer us the following pricing:
  
• Saturday: between £40-48 / day
• Tuesday: £25 / 3.5hr session

This comes to £292 / month and I would imagine that this would include electricity, heating and internet, seeing as it's shared office space.

They also provide local storage: a lockable cupboard approximately 5ftx3ft deep at £10/month.

So, this solution seems to provide us with storage and working space for the all inclusive price of about £300/month, which seems reasonable. My only concern is regarding the layout of the meeting room and whether it would be suitable for our HackSpace activities. I'm guessing it's probably going to a large table with seats around it, which may not be too bad, although if we want to do some sawing and drilling we might have to be careful.

It seems that shared office space would be suitable for an organisation like ours, especially with the currently membership status, as we only pay for the time we need and can easily expand as we get more members.

Any thoughts on this venue or suggested alternatives?

[Jon Spriggs]

On 27 June 2011 22:32, Amr <amrb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Since the announcement last week, we've had a browse around the internet for
> suitable venues that could host the HackSpace. Richard found the following:
> http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/coworking-office-space-available/79267715

<snip>

> I'm guessing it's probably going to a
> large table with seats around it, which may not be too bad, although if we
> want to do some sawing and drilling we might have to be careful.

Just to let you know, when Stockport Hackspace were considering
getting involved with a local centre (which sounds a lot like what
you've put here), we advised them what we were thinking of doing, and
they were very concerned even about doing things like soldering there.

To ensure you don't have any misunderstandings, I would consider
discussing fully with the premises manager what you're considering
doing before you go sign anything... the last thing you need is to
have any deposit called in because you "destroyed" a table.

--
Jon "The Nice Guy" Spriggs

[Imran Ali]

I know the Headingley HEART people - you might be able to hire a room for more drilly/sawy/soldery stuff, but I suspect they won't be keen on that in their services areas… same goes for Old Broadcasting House.

As I mentioned in a preivous post - talk to the Left Eye Blind guys at Marshall Mill… they have tons of space and its more improvisational… they're also a great bunch.

[Jonathan Stirling]

When searching, please keep in mind that we currently have a lot of
debt to pay. Until we can pay off the arrears, I don't even want to
consider a new space (aside from ones that are basically free) until
that is paid off.

Note: We can't afford the current rent, and this place would cost
about the same, meaning we can't afford that at the moment either. Not
to mention that you're talking about around the same price as what we
pay for rent now, but for a very limited amount of time (Tuesday and
Saturdays) compared the the current space which can open any time and
do whatever we want in. Yes, it might bring us a few more members, but
that's not a risk we can take.

Another note: What would we do about the landline and adsl that we are
already in contract for? We have to pay for these whether it's a
shared space or not. Also, if they charge £10 a month for a cupboard,
where are the racks going to go? Or would we have to find some storage
space elsewhere too?

I appreciate everybodies enthusiasm, but we need to sort out the mess
we've left at the current place /before/ we commit to any other
financial outgoings.

I have requested that people using the space put some time into
pricing up stuff we have in there that we could sell to other spaces
or other people to help pay off our debt as soon as possible. If we
manage that and sort out plans of action so we don't muck up again, we
can look into a proper space for us to move into, whether it be shared
with others, or our own.

As for Left Eye Blind, would anyone be able to get in touch with them
and find out some details from them?

Sorry to be the downer on the conversation, but we cannot rush into
something yet again.

Jonny.

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[Jonathan Powell]

Seconded.

For software developers, think of this as paying off "technical debt",
only with actual money ;)

I'm keen to find elsewhere, too - and I've been in discussions with
other groups as well to find new, shinier, cheaper premises. The HEART
group isn't such a great idea. They've proved to be a little
unfriendly to other community groups that my friends have been part of
in the past, and they're clearly aiming their services at
professionals. They might, however, be good hosts for an Event if we
should choose to run workshops or somesuch in the interim.

That said, if we can find free space for a few months... that would be
awesomehelpful. Don't stop looking!

Also @Imran - thanks for the info. I'll get in touch with them soon.

- JP

--

- Jonathan Powell
Squiggled, software development
email: squ...@gmail.com
website: http://squiggled.co.uk
mobile: 07506100806

[Amr]

Don't worry guys - we're well aware of the debt that we need to pay off and the fact that we have three months before we move out of the current space. We're just getting a feel for what facilities are out there and throwing some ideas about. By getting feedback like this for potential spaces we can quickly start to refine our searches and identify things to watch out for so that when we do eventually move out, we don't take as long finding a replacement space.

With regards to the rent, how much does the current place cost? As I understood it, the rent alone is £400/month, with electricity, gas an internet added on top. Also, with the organisation being in the financial state it is in at the moment, could you publish on the forum the details of our current financial situation (e.g. current rent + expenses per month, current debt level etc.)? It would definitely help to know much we need to raise and what kind of price range to look for in prospective properties.

Amr

[James Hitchcock]

+1 !!! 

James. 

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