Looking for like-minded folks to form a hackerspace!

[Justin]

I don't mean to be stepping anyone's toes here, but me and 4 other
very dedicated fellas are in the process of finding more like-minded
people to form a hackerspace here in Portland. We've scoped out a
great location, wrote some bylaws, and have lots of cool equipment to
share (oscilloscopes, welder, bredboards, etc) we just need more
people to make this a reality! We figure with 8 or 9 people we can get
the place rented + utilities for around $100/ea per month. Once the
initial space is formed attracting new members should be no problem.
Please e-mail me or ky...@kyleterry.com for more information.

[Chris Brentano]

Can you provide more details on list?

Location? Hours?
Equipment?
Will this be open to the public? Membership-based?
Will you also host regular events? Or is this for working on projects only?
What's your long term vision? (Other than providing a hacker space, of course.)

I mean, sounds great and all, but I need more of a sales pitch before
I'm willing to put down $100/month.

[Justin May]

We're making up a wiki and mailing list right now so the dirty details will be available soon. In general it will be membership based (we each share the rent and utilities equally), and any equipment anyone lends to the cause will be required to remain in the spot. We haven't talked about hosting events, but it could be done. Mostly we just want to share resources and knowledge and make stuff. Our bylaws will be posted to the wiki soon, I was just getting a general feel for the interest. We have about 6 solid members right now, just need about 10 to reach critical mass. We're all on #pdxhackerspace on freenode right now if you want to chat.

Right now we're looking at a storefront at 78th & Stark. 900 sq ft and a backyard for welding (and BBQ's!). More details will come soon.

[Lokkju Brennr]

Not to throw a damper on your project, but a couple of points here...  Your proposal for a space (the storefront at 78th and Stark) fails two requirements for a hackerspace, if not three.

First, there is not really good public transit/it is not easily accessible.  While there is bus service out there, what you really need to find is someplace very near a MAX line.  As an alternative, anyplace *very* central (think near downtown/SE industrial area) is decent, because it is close enough to both the MAX and *many* bus lines.  Especially in Portland, someplace with easy public transit or bike access is important - as much f your potential clientele doesn't like to drive, even assuming they have cars.

Second, 900 sq. ft. is *very* small.  You should be looking in the 1500+ sq ft, with no real upper limit.  Once you start getting some decent equiptment in there, anything less will seem as if there is no space to move.  Old wherehouses, places with basements, and other building with large open areas and tall ceilings are more the type of place you want.

Third, looking at the area it is in, how ok are the neighbors going to be with it?

Another question would be what your organizational format would be - LLC, LP (limited number of members though), nonprofit, etc.

I applaud you for actually trying, and don't want to discourage you guys, but these are just some concerns I would have.  If you could find someplace that dealt with those, I would for sure be joining - and donating equipment. 

[Michael Richardson]

> First, there is not really good public transit/it is not
> easily accessible. While there is bus service out there, what you
> really need to find is someplace very near a MAX line. As an
> alternative, anyplace *very* central (think near downtown/SE industrial
> area) is decent, because it is close enough to both the MAX and *many*
> bus lines. Especially in Portland, someplace with easy public transit
> or bike access is important - as much f your potential clientele doesn't
> like to drive, even assuming they have cars.

This is an extremely good point; being easily accessible is absurdly
important. Now, if you're able to get 9-10 (or howevermany) people who
are more than wiling to go to 78th and Stark, great. But... for a
general audience, a central location is extremely important (see the
smashing success of Hacklab Toronto).

> Second, 900 sq. ft. is *very* small. You should be looking in the 1500+
> sq ft, with no real upper limit. Once you start getting some decent
> equiptment in there, anything less will seem as if there is no space to
> move. Old wherehouses, places with basements, and other building with
> large open areas and tall ceilings are more the type of place you want.

I would argue a little bit about this - 900 square feet isn't insanely
small to start out with, there's a space in San Francisco with only
~1000square feet, though 9 people in that space is getting a bit much.
$100/month for a space that you can't really do coworking in is trouble
- remember, you members need 24 hour access, because part of the time
they're just going to want to Get Shit Done. $100/month is a bit too
much for just hanging out space.

> Third, looking at the area it is in, how ok are the neighbors going to
> be with it?
>
> Another question would be what your organizational format would be -
> LLC, LP (limited number of members though), nonprofit, etc.
>
> I applaud you for actually trying, and don't want to discourage you
> guys, but these are just some concerns I would have. If you could find
> someplace that dealt with those, I would for sure be joining - and
> donating equipment.

Indeed.

> <mailto:ky...@kyleterry.com> for more information.
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[AmyJ]

I'm very interested in gaining a space in Portland, and $100/month is
doable for me if the space is right for my needs.

Michael Richardson wrote:
> > First, there is not really good public transit/it is not
> > easily accessible. While there is bus service out there, what you
> > really need to find is someplace very near a MAX line. As an
> > alternative, anyplace *very* central (think near downtown/SE industrial
> > area) is decent, because it is close enough to both the MAX and *many*
> > bus lines. Especially in Portland, someplace with easy public transit
> > or bike access is important - as much f your potential clientele doesn't
> > like to drive, even assuming they have cars.
>
> This is an extremely good point; being easily accessible is absurdly
> important. Now, if you're able to get 9-10 (or howevermany) people who
> are more than wiling to go to 78th and Stark, great. But... for a
> general audience, a central location is extremely important (see the
> smashing success of Hacklab Toronto).
>

Location is extremely important. Personally, I'm not willing to go to
78th and Stark, nor are any of the other hax0rs I know who are willing
to join something like this.

Hacklab Toronto is in a great location, PNA in Seattle is *fairly* well
located, NYC Resistor is well located, as is the new space in DC (though
I can't think of the name of it right now.)

> > Second, 900 sq. ft. is *very* small. You should be looking in the 1500+
> > sq ft, with no real upper limit. Once you start getting some decent
> > equiptment in there, anything less will seem as if there is no space to
> > move. Old wherehouses, places with basements, and other building with
> > large open areas and tall ceilings are more the type of place you want.
>
> I would argue a little bit about this - 900 square feet isn't insanely
> small to start out with, there's a space in San Francisco with only
> ~1000square feet, though 9 people in that space is getting a bit much.
> $100/month for a space that you can't really do coworking in is trouble
> - remember, you members need 24 hour access, because part of the time
> they're just going to want to Get Shit Done. $100/month is a bit too
> much for just hanging out space.
>

Amusingly, Michael, you mention the "smashing success" of Hacklab
Toronto, but perhaps haven't been there? I'd be surprised if that space
is 900 feet. ;)

Srsly, though, space requirements seem dependent on how much *building*
you want to do in the space. Hacklab Toronto is (primarily) a place
where people sit around computers. It's an office space, though they now
have a fairly large laser cutter. PNA in Seattle has around 3,000 sq ft,
which houses a large cnc mill, a soldering station, kilns, drill press,
metal lathe, large rfid antenna, Tesla coil, a room for clean work, etc
etc etc. When 20 people are in there working on a Saturday night, it's
crowded. So, if you just want people to sit around on computers, a
smaller space is reasonable. If you want to build things, 900 sq ft is
nothing.

> > Third, looking at the area it is in, how ok are the neighbors going to
> > be with it?
> >
> > Another question would be what your organizational format would be -
> > LLC, LP (limited number of members though), nonprofit, etc.
> >
> > I applaud you for actually trying, and don't want to discourage you
> > guys, but these are just some concerns I would have. If you could find
> > someplace that dealt with those, I would for sure be joining - and
> > donating equipment.
>
> Indeed.
>

I completely agree with all of this.

Regards,

AmyJ