Tri-Main Center

[Dan Magnuszewski]

Nick Q, Dan G, and myself checked out Tri-Main suite 401 and a couple others today. 401 was really nice and the space would be perfect for our needs. It also helps that Dan would be the anchor tenet and take the lease (no waiting for the LLC to be formed). Dan, let me know if this is an incorrect statement. FYI - Nick will be posting some photos shortly.

A breakdown:

• 2800 sq ft at $8/sqft/year (~$1,100/month)
• 24/7 (fob) access
  
• All utilities included (except internet)
  
• Coworking would take over approximately half and "You And Who" would take over the other half (exact breakdown determined if we want to go through with it) 
• Huge open area, 2 conference rooms, smaller meeting rooms, giant windows, kitchen, shared bathrooms on floor
• Free off street parking
• Not really a walkable neighborhood, area is alright, near public transportation and the 33
• Restaurant on the 2nd floor of building
  
• Additional offices/conference rooms can be built to suit our needs within the space.
  

Thoughts on the building/location/etc?!

-Dan

[Nick Quaranto]

Here's some pictures:

http://imgur.com/a/sNMZX

Some other notes of mine:

• "area is alright" = "there's a fenced parking lot with security", several shady looking buildings around. Clearly not as walkable as an EV office.
• Holy crap, TONS of space and light.
• I could actually see us doing meetups and events here. Could be a great hub for tech meetups in the area.

Would love your thoughts. If we go with this one, we'd need to move fast.

-Nick

[John Miller]

I personally like the idea of space, free parking, and the price seems good.  The location isn't great.  Other than Central Park Grill, the only food choice is going to be that Lunch Box that's in the building.

I think this location is going to be a harder sell to those people who want to give co-working a shot but aren't really involved in this process today.  If the goal is to establish a co-working spot for the people who have committed money, then that's fine.  If the goal is to use that as a seed to build a co-working space that draws more people in, I can't see this drawing them in.

[Steve Poland]

Thoughts/Questions:

• Q: What is the parking situation? I know they have that lot, but how many people from the space can get a pass... or do people need a pass at all?
• Fact: After some google maps investigation, that window appears to face North-East... (morning sun!)
• Fact: from my home in the city, near downtown/Allentown, it's a 4.4 mile bike ride (~25 min).

Space looks nice. I like that there are so many businesses at tri-main center. Also, the lunchbox [lunch joint there] is deliciousness.

Have you guys thought of starting to cowork at like dolce in the meantime?

Steve Poland 
http://twitter.com/popo

[Christopher Buryta]

For those who plan to drive, it's probably actually a really great location. Food-wise it's very close to the Hertel / Parkside area where there's plenty of lunch options. Also not far from a handful of places on main street towards UB.

Chris Buryta

bur...@gmail.com

twitter: cburyta

aim: cburyta

[Nick Quaranto]

There's two huge parking lots behind the building. Free.

I'd be biking too, from Bidwell. Gotta lose the weight somehow :)

There are a ton of businesses there. The lobby space definitely felt alive today. Lunch Box was tempting!

As for Dolce, etc…I migrate to Spot around 1pm daily. I wouldn't mind trying there.

-Nick

[John Miller]

What kind of security is in the space we'd have, for example when we go to lunch and leave laptops lying around?  Or, as we've talked about, for leaving less portable items there for when we do come in (monitors, or whatever)?

Downtown has some advantage to me personally, because my wife works down there and I could drop her off/pick her up on days I'm co-working.  EV has some advantage to me personally because I buy from stores in that area, and I could run errands while I'm there.  I don't do any business anywhere near that area of Main, so for me, it has a little less draw.  I would be going there specifically to co-work, and then going back home when I'm done.  I certainly realize that's not the case for everyone, though.

[Nick Quaranto]

The building is open to the public (key fob access at night), but each space is locked individually. We would definitely encourage and trust folks to leave equipment there. I certainly plan on doing it, no matter what space we get.

As for security of the building in general, we actually got an informal view on that today. There's a security desk at the main lobby, along with a pretty intense CCTV system around the building as well. I also noticed a security car in the parking lot.

[Andy Staple]

From the photos, the place looks nice. I don't care too much about driving 5 miles one way or the other. The area isn't quite as lively as EV, but the space does look really nice. Also, if those windows don't appease people, not sure what will other than a glass roof. So the only big issue is the location, but I think the positives outweigh the negatives for this space.

The Parking and Security is a nice bonus as well. 

--
Andy Staple

Staple Web Design

[Chris Smith]

I think it looks great, offers affordability, well-lit space, prominent/notable location, parking, and offers easy access by car/bike. The building itself can become a destination for startups and community as there are some great, cool companies and art spaces already in the building. We're going to have to make some compromises in this search and this space provides the least amount of them, IMO.

I'm in. When can we start?

Chris

--
Christopher M. Smith
Artvoice
810-812 Main St
Buffalo, NY 14202
artvoice.com
Email:  ch...@wnymedia.net
Mobile: 716.982.7537
Web:  http://blogs.artvoice.com/avdaily/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/wnymediachris

[Steve Poland]

+1 to this thought: "The building itself can become a destination for startups and community as there are some great, cool companies and art spaces already in the building."

Reasonable rent in whole bldg can let startups evolve into their own spaces. 

--
Steve Poland 
http://twitter.com/popo

[Chris Van Patten]

I love the look of this place. I was skeptical about the Elmwood building, but I'd be very interested here (especially if there's an "a la carte" option).

Also worth noting that the proximity to Main and the Metro Rail is very convenient for UB students, should this become a "hub" of events and activities.

[Kevin Purdy]

Well, which thread do I reply in? But!

+ I'm in for a subscription, given what I know about the space.

+ Given a list of willing subscribers, and a decent P/L sheet (which I'll help price out), I'm tentatively in as an investor.

Given that I compel people to show up for TEDxBuffalo meetings at Canisius, I can't pretend like location is the end-all/be-all of projects and events. If we start off here, and make it work, it's up to us to get people in the know and interested.

- - -

Kevin Purdy

+ Site: http://thepurdman.com

+ Google+: https://bit.ly/kpgplus

[Dan Magnuszewski]

Awesome! With Kevin on board, we will also have Steve Poland on board. I talked to Brian Fending and he is also willing to support the cause even though he already has a downtown office (which is awesome!).

I think we should move forward and try to get the space. The building management mentioned that "someone is interested in the space" but I'm considering the source. With that said, there's not too much available at Tri-Main (evidently ~95% full) so we should make it happen ASAP. Getting internet installed will probably, for some reason outside of my understanding, take a while to get installed.

Any other lurkers out there interested in being part of this great adventure?!

-Dan

[Brian Fending]

I recently took a few minutes to see Dan G's current office at trimain, not the space in question. Given that it's apparently consistent with the rest of the building, I have the following unqualified comments:

 - It can be a trek to get around that building. This is an absurd objection.

 - It's a longer drive for me. Also absurd objection given emerging consensus.

 - I still like it.

/BF

[Robert Maefs]

this looks great to me.  it's on the edge of the habitable zone which is exactly where something like this can thrive.

there's also artists and such in the building which is nice.

also, windows.

[Curtis Duhn]

FWIW, this lengthens my drive to 31 minutes from East Aurora, so the location isn't great for a southerner like me, but then I'm not prepared to make a 6 month commitment to any space right now, so my vote shouldn't count.  It does look like a nice space, and I'd certainly make the drive for special events.

If it's a wild success and you fill the place to capacity, maybe we can test the idea of a Buffalo Coworking – Southern Campus one of these days.

Curtis

--
Curtis Duhn
716-601-9284

[Kevin John Gomez]

I'm all for this. I think the space is ideal and the location is fine. We might not have a lot in walking distance, but anyone with a car or bike can get anywhere in minutes. It's not that sketchy an area. I use to live near Main and it was no problem.