lease/land hunt
Valerie Roney
I've got him keeping an eye out for land to park seacans on, but I think we'll have better luck finding someone who will let us park in their back yard so to speak. Purchasing even a vacant lot in this city starts at $500k so chances of buying land are out.
His other observation is as we're doing something weird we're going to have lots of interaction with the city and that is going to be S L O W. I like the idea of puting the seacan in a wharehouse somewhere to get proof of concept (and keep us comfy in the winter while we work on it) and would give us up to a year to solve the land/beurocracy issues.
I think one of our major priorties would be building a relationship with the city. If we can get ppl like Nenshi and Terry Rock from CADA (Calgary Arts Development Authority) on board - they may be able to hook us up with City land somewhere like East Village or other areas appropriated by the city that aren't being used yet. Our portability and ability to keep a site active, then move when they need us to might be a real selling point.
Doug's (realtor) other suggestion was rural. Finding somewhere to park our seacan hackerspace in Langdon or such would have much less red tape, and be much more affordable lease or buy. But that may pull us too far away from being a "Calgary" hackerspace and if people didn't like something that was hard to get to via transit, someplace without even transit might make it a complete no-go.
Anyway, that about covers my phone conversation with Doug, the content of his email is below:
IND-Sale Flyer View
Doug McNaughton
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE (CENTRAL)
206, 2411 - 4TH STREET N.W.
CALGARY, AB T2M 2Z8
Office: 403-216-1600
E-mail: do...@creb.com
Valerie Roney
This was what was developed when we were looking for a physical space, if we do go the seacan route, we'd just need somewhere to put it (monthly costs <$500-ish - that's still a soft number has the plan develops) but location requirements would be the same as below. And we may need a more long term temp space as we get the seacan up and running.
If we're going to find a space that works for us (full space, or just land), it'll likely be through some kind of side-connection not commercial - so EVERBODY read below and keep your ears perked up for any posssible leads. We'll hit this from as many sides as we can! We'll find a new, and very kick-ass home one way or another...
Protospace, the coolest lost puppy you'll ever take in!
Under $1,200/month power included - if power isn't included our budget would drop accordingly.
A minimum of 800 square feet - the size isn't as relevant as the usability of the space - a decent aspect ratio, and all on main floor, or main floor with loft would be ideal.
Accessibility (parking day/eve, and transit) is more important than specific location, but there is a preference for something central if it can be found. Having a location with good visibility (store front, backing onto C-train etc) would be a bonus. Late night/ 24 access would be important too.
We will be doing soldering and light manufacturing so would need to be somewhere zoned accordingly - this also means we need:
- good HVAC/ventilation
- concrete floors
- 220 power and good availability of outlets (or ability to upgrade)
- bay doors would be helpful too
roof access would be another bonus
Other than that, we'd be open to looking at industrial areas, commercial storefronts, even a house if it is zoned appropriately.
Amokk
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Andrew Preece
On 2011-07-15, at 10:01 AM, Amokk wrote:
> "Hey Nenshi, how's it going buddy? Hey, can we squat a trailer on a piece of land worth $12 million? No, don't worry about any liability you may incur on our behalf. Think of how cool it would be!"
EXACTLY.
Shannon
let us know. There might be some value in having an art gallery
petition on behalf of the cultural benefit of vibrant hacker
communities.
On Jul 14, 8:25 pm, Valerie Roney <rumigrou...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'll paste the shopping list of what we're looking for below.
>
> This was what was developed when we were looking for a physical space, if we
> do go the seacan route, we'd just need somewhere to put it (monthly costs
> <$500-ish - that's still a soft number has the plan develops) but location
> requirements would be the same as below. And we may need a more long term
> temp space as we get the seacan up and running.
>
> If we're going to find a space that works for us (full space, or just land),
> it'll likely be through some kind of side-connection not commercial - so
> EVERBODY read below and keep your ears perked up for any posssible leads.
> We'll hit this from as many sides as we can! We'll find a new, and very
> kick-ass home one way or another...
>
> Protospace, the coolest lost puppy you'll ever take in!
>
> Under $1,200/month power included - if power isn't included our budget would
> drop accordingly.
>
> A minimum of 800 square feet - the size isn't as relevant as the usability
> of the space - a decent aspect ratio, and all on main floor, or main floor
> with loft would be ideal.
>
> Accessibility (parking day/eve, and transit) is more important than specific
> location, but there is a preference for something central if it can be
> found. Having a location with good visibility (store front, backing onto
> C-train etc) would be a bonus. Late night/ 24 access would be important too.
>
> We will be doing soldering and light manufacturing so would need to be
> somewhere zoned accordingly - this also means we need:
>
> - concrete floors
> - 220 power and good availability of outlets (or ability to upgrade)
> - bay doors would be helpful too
Andrew Preece
On 2011-07-15, at 10:49 AM, Shannon wrote:
> If there is anything Endeavor can do to speak on behalf of Protospace,
> let us know. There might be some value in having an art gallery
> petition on behalf of the cultural benefit of vibrant hacker
> communities.
We may actually end up needing more practical assistance from artists. Renderings may be able to go a long way in terms of selling the vision. If that's the kind of help you're willing to offer, we'll definitely get it down in the wiki so we know that you're a resource.
Andrew Funk
Tony Grimes
Tony
On 2011-07-15, at 10:49 AM, Shannon wrote:
Shannon
do have an engaged patron that might conceivably be interested in
getting involved... We do, however, have some artists that might be
interested in working on public art projects for the space.
codohundo
hacker/maker space, that's half of the charm. wouldn't it be nice if
people started talking about what the Calgary Hackerspace has done as
opposed to us looking at the other ones with envy? I agree we do have
to get this idea at least half baked before making any proposals, but
that doesn't mean we can't keep our eyes open.
weetabix
Collaboration with artists would definitely increase the cool-factor.
Some of the spatial visualization they can do would be fantastic for our
"lego blocks", and it gives them a change to experiment and hack too. It
might also help endear the artitic community to us and/or to our space,
which, as far as im concerned, can only help.
I mean.... DID YOU SEE THE FREAKIN CAST IRON CHAIRS? :D (if you didnt
they were seriously freaking cool. that artist was a genius.)
Screw the peace bridge, come see the Maker City. (I am totally all for
using Maker in that sense! This place is gonna require more than just
hacking, voodoo, munging, and a few grokky frobs with a welder...)
If you dont understand most of that, catb!
weetabix
weetabix
This is written by Eric S Raymond (Yes, that Eric S Raymond)
Here are several ways you can help:
*
If you are a writer or journalist, don't say or write hacker when
you mean cracker. If you work with writers or journalists, educate them
on this issue and push them to do the right thing. If you catch a
newspaper or magazine abusing the word �hacker�, write them and
straighten them out (this appendix includes a model letter).
*
If you're a techie or computer hobbyist, get involved with one of
the free Unixes. Toss out that lame Microsoft OS, or confine it to one
disk partition and put Linux or FreeBSD or NetBSD on the other one. And
the next time your friend or boss is thinking about some proprietary
software �solution� that costs more than it's worth, be ready to blow
the competition away with open-source software running over a Unix.
*
Contribute to organizations like the Free Software Foundation
that promote the production of high-quality free and open-source
software. You can reach the Free Software Foundation at <g...@gnu.org>,
by phone at +1-617-542-5942, or by snail-mail at 59 Temple Place, Suite
330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.
*
Support the League for Programming Freedom, which opposes
over-broad software patents that constantly threaten to blow up in
hackers' faces, preventing them from developing innovative software for
tomorrow's needs. You can reach the League for Programming Freedom at
<l...@uunet.uu.net>. by phone at +1 617 621 7084, or by snail-mail at 1
Kendall Square #143, P.O.Box 9171, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 USA.
*
Join the continuing fight against Internet censorship, visit the
Center for Democracy and Technology Home Page at http://www.cdt.org/.
*
If you do nothing else, please help fight government attempts to
seize political control of Internet content and restrict strong
cryptography. The so-called �Communications Decency Act� was declared
unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but U.S. cryptography policy
still infringes our First Amendment rights. Surf to the Center for
Democracy and technology's home page at http://www.cdt.org/ to see what
you can do to help fight censorship of the net.
Here's the text of a letter RMS wrote to the Wall Street Journal to
complain about their policy of using �hacker� only in a pejorative
sense. We hear that most major newspapers have the same policy. If you'd
like to help change this situation, send your favorite newspaper the
same letter � or, better yet, write your own letter.
This letter is not meant for publication, although you can publish
it if you wish. It is meant specifically for you, the editor, not the
public.
I am a hacker. That is to say, I enjoy playing with computers �
working with, learning about, and writing clever computer programs. I am
not a cracker; I don't make a practice of breaking computer security.
There's nothing shameful about the hacking I do. But when I tell
people I am a hacker, people think I'm admitting something naughty �
because newspapers such as yours misuse the word �hacker�, giving the
impression that it means �security breaker� and nothing else. You are
giving hackers a bad name.
The saddest thing is that this problem is perpetuated deliberately.
Your reporters know the difference between �hacker� and �security
breaker�. They know how to make the distinction, but you don't let them!
You insist on using �hacker� pejoratively. When reporters try to use
another word, you change it. When reporters try to explain the other
meanings, you cut it.
Of course, you have a reason. You say that readers have become used
to your insulting usage of �hacker�, so that you cannot change it now.
Well, you can't undo past mistakes today; but that is no excuse to
repeat them tomorrow.
If I were what you call a �hacker�, at this point I would threaten
to crack your computer and crash it. But I am a hacker, not a cracker. I
don't do that kind of thing! I have enough computers to play with at
home and at work; I don't need yours. Besides, it's not my way to
respond to insults with violence. My response is this letter.
You owe hackers an apology; but more than that, you owe us ordinary
respect.
Rasmus Rydstrøm-Poulsen
- Rasmus Rydstrøm
(403) 890 8324
This message was sent from my mobile data device, apologies for typos
and brevity.
On Jul 15, 2011, at 21:07, weetabix <weet...@weetabix.net> wrote:
>
> This is written by Eric S Raymond (Yes, that Eric S Raymond)
>
>
> Here are several ways you can help:
>
> *
>
> If you are a writer or journalist, don't say or write hacker when you mean cracker. If you work with writers or journalists, educate them on this issue and push them to do the right thing. If you catch a newspaper or magazine abusing the word ‘hacker’, write them and straighten them out (this appendix includes a model letter).
> *
>
> If you're a techie or computer hobbyist, get involved with one of the free Unixes. Toss out that lame Microsoft OS, or confine it to one disk partition and put Linux or FreeBSD or NetBSD on the other one. And the next time your friend or boss is thinking about some proprietary software ‘solution’ that costs more than it's worth, be ready to blow the competition away with open-source software running over a Unix.
> *
>
> Contribute to organizations like the Free Software Foundation that promote the production of high-quality free and open-source software. You can reach the Free Software Foundation at <g...@gnu.org>, by phone at +1-617-542-5942, or by snail-mail at 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.
> *
>
> Support the League for Programming Freedom, which opposes over-broad software patents that constantly threaten to blow up in hackers' faces, preventing them from developing innovative software for tomorrow's needs. You can reach the League for Programming Freedom at <l...@uunet.uu.net>. by phone at +1 617 621 7084, or by snail-mail at 1 Kendall Square #143, P.O.Box 9171, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 USA.
> *
>
> Join the continuing fight against Internet censorship, visit the Center for Democracy and Technology Home Page at http://www.cdt.org/.
> *
>
> If you do nothing else, please help fight government attempts to seize political control of Internet content and restrict strong cryptography. The so-called ‘Communications Decency Act’ was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but U.S. cryptography policy still infringes our First Amendment rights. Surf to the Center for Democracy and technology's home page at http://www.cdt.org/ to see what you can do to help fight censorship of the net.
>
> Here's the text of a letter RMS wrote to the Wall Street Journal to complain about their policy of using “hacker” only in a pejorative sense. We hear that most major newspapers have the same policy. If you'd like to help change this situation, send your favorite newspaper the same letter — or, better yet, write your own letter.
>
> This letter is not meant for publication, although you can publish it if you wish. It is meant specifically for you, the editor, not the public.
>
> I am a hacker. That is to say, I enjoy playing with computers — working with, learning about, and writing clever computer programs. I am not a cracker; I don't make a practice of breaking computer security.
>
> There's nothing shameful about the hacking I do. But when I tell people I am a hacker, people think I'm admitting something naughty — because newspapers such as yours misuse the word “hacker”, giving the impression that it means “security breaker” and nothing else. You are giving hackers a bad name.
>
> The saddest thing is that this problem is perpetuated deliberately. Your reporters know the difference between “hacker” and “security breaker”. They know how to make the distinction, but you don't let them! You insist on using “hacker” pejoratively. When reporters try to use another word, you change it. When reporters try to explain the other meanings, you cut it.
>
> Of course, you have a reason. You say that readers have become used to your insulting usage of “hacker”, so that you cannot change it now. Well, you can't undo past mistakes today; but that is no excuse to repeat them tomorrow.
>
> If I were what you call a “hacker”, at this point I would threaten to crack your computer and crash it. But I am a hacker, not a cracker. I don't do that kind of thing! I have enough computers to play with at home and at work; I don't need yours. Besides, it's not my way to respond to insults with violence. My response is this letter.
>
> You owe hackers an apology; but more than that, you owe us ordinary respect.
>
Brian
architectural firms here in Calgary. He’s an interior designer and
often does renderings, both AutoCAD and 3D models combined with
Photoshop for client presentations.
He found the Protospace Sea-Can idea interesting and offered to help
out by doing some renderings. Also he could query an architect or two
about what kind of development permits we’d need.
Merovingian
others) are working on 3D models as well, so if we could share files
that would reduce much work. I'll be working mainly on mechanical
models, but he could use those as a basis.
weetabix
Thank you Brian!
On 11-07-16 05:07 PM, Brian wrote:
>
> My son Devon works for Dialog (formerly Cohos Evamy), one of the older
> architectural firms here in Calgary. He�s an interior designer and
> often does renderings, both AutoCAD and 3D models combined with
> Photoshop for client presentations.
>
> He found the Protospace Sea-Can idea interesting and offered to help
> out by doing some renderings. Also he could query an architect or two
> about what kind of development permits we�d need.
Benjamin Reed
the concerns voiced during the meeting last night, we need a place.
ASA-frackin-P.
A good point that was brought up was that the closer the space is in
proximity to the ctrain, the more expensive it will become - maybe
even 30% more than other locations. Many hackspaces in North America
have car pool plans for getting to the space, and it works just fine
for them.
Although a super central location with access to transit is ideal, it
doesn't seem to be plausible. A lot of other hackspaces are actually
located in seedy areas of the city they reside in, and they still
thrive.
That said, WE SHOULD AIM TO MOVE INTO A NEW SPACE BY SEPT 1! A
Protospace is just a Proto without a space. The Sea Can project is a
great idea, but will take a lot of capitol and time - neither of which
we have a lot of right now. Let's make the Sea Can Project a 1-5 year
plan unless we magically get a large amount of cash in the near
future.
In the mean time, we should designate a committee with a PM (or maybe
just a PM) to organize The Great Space Hunting Blitz of August. As was
mentioned, we have members that have friends in high places - friends
that can be leveraged if approached correctly. Let's get a real
business plan together, both short term and long term!
On Jul 16, 7:37 pm, "weetabix" <weeta...@weetabix.net> wrote:
> Thank you Brian!
>
> On 11-07-16 05:07 PM, Brian wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > My son Devon works for Dialog (formerly Cohos Evamy), one of the older
> > Photoshop for client presentations.
>
> > He found the Protospace Sea-Can idea interesting and offered to help
> > out by doing some renderings. Also he could query an architect or two
ouroboros
and if we want something large enough to accommodate the projects we
want to do (even in the short term 3-6 month arena), we need a fairly
large space with an easy way to move equipment in and out. When it
comes to things we can potentially afford (and this means we all need
to be diligent about paying our dues and making sure that in this
interim period we are building up enough capital for first month's
rent and damage deposit), we're looking at far enough away from the
train line to require car pools but not so far that it would be
burdensome to driving members (maybe 5-10 minutes away by car
depending on station).
If it hasn't already been mentioned, we are going to hold at meeting
at 2:30 on Monday August 1 at an as yet undecided location. This is a
business plan blitz and we want to have a working skeleton of our
business plan which we can then pretty up for proposal purposes. We
also are going to require audit-ready financial statements (which I
will take lead on) and again, if any members have any friends or
relatives who have an accounting designation who could audit the
financials for us, that would also be beneficial to present for long
term funding. The number one marketing tool we will ever have is
actually having an available space so lets all get on this and start
bringing in locations to look at rather than wishlists.
Andrew Funk
Location.... I have gotten permission to use the boardroom at my office.
Inks
Doc
Benjamin Reed
the board room at Andrew's office would be great, we'll just have to
stop by timmy's or something to get coffee/donuts bulk
On Jul 27, 9:49 am, Andrew Funk <andrew.fun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Location.... I have gotten permission to use the boardroom at my office.
>
> Inks
Bree
artist space, and so long as you properly explain to them what you
mean by "hackerspace" (because there are a lot of negative
connotations to the word 'hacker' for some reason) you should be able
to get something. Perhaps not huge, but something. Another place to
look is the AntHill building in Kensington. I know Market Collective
has been there for quite awhile, and not only do they sponsor local
calgary initiatives now, but have a lot to say about finding space for
local art(ish) based things. I'll talk to Angel about that, and get
back to you. Inglewood is another community with a vibrant scene for
this, and perhaps you will be able to team-up with another local space
that has time to donate to you. Perhaps try not to look for a space of
your own just yet, but a space to share. Once you've got that handled,
expansions and autonomy can follow. While rural space will be cheaper,
it will also be less accessible; limiting not only the group you've
already collected, but the willingness of new members; something vital
to a flourishing community, especially when yours is so understated
right now. There is lots of industrial space in the far SE and SW, so
perhaps give that a look, remembering again that it's important to
keep your projects accessible.
I have a friend who is both an architect and an interior designer
willing to spend some time on your project as well, should you still
need it. I'm also trying to get a article published on how you guys
are left without a space; once again Calgary shuts down anything local
and not oil-based. I'll be in contact with you when my editors approve
it.
If you need a place to meet, I have a house in Kensington that is
always open to you. I'll be in touch about this, and best of luck!
-B
Tessa
Benjamin Reed
with your contact regarding Protospace, I need to conversate with you,
just to make sure we're on the same page :) Maybe phone call soon, or
when we hang on sat, or I could just drop by some time!
Kan .
We did speak on the east village (fish market mainly) again briefly, it would be a good spot for general work shop possibly if we could get more details, we just wouldn't be able to host events and it locks up around 11 I think it was.
Even if we could find a spot that gives us 8 am to 11pm access 7 days a week that would probably work for most members until a more open option is found.
Benjamin Reed
but I told him to hold off from doing anything until after our meeting
on Monday.
On Jul 28, 11:32 am, "Kan ." <k...@uddf.net> wrote:
> I believe Wintr has been our contact for the east village arts stuff as he
> has temporarily had one space there and knows who to contact and other
> details. He should be recovering and alive in the next two days from flying
> in so maybe he can speak up on that when he gathers him self back together
> from travelling.
>
> We did speak on the east village (fish market mainly) again briefly, it
> would be a good spot for general work shop possibly if we could get more
> details, we just wouldn't be able to host events and it locks up around 11 I
> think it was.
>
> Even if we could find a spot that gives us 8 am to 11pm access 7 days a week
> that would probably work for most members until a more open option is found.
>