[KwartzLab] Getting a larger space, renting storage rooms for members -- thoughts?

[Darcy Casselman]

The proposal here is to carve out dedicated studio or project spaces
for an additional fee.  Something like providing 8x8 rooms for an
additional $100 on top of membership.  The people in those rooms would
be members and would need to apply as members.  If we felt they were
only interested in hanging out in their room and not being part of our
community, it's less likely we'd let them join.  We don't want to be
landlords.

I've talked to quite a few people—generally artists—over the years who
think Kwartzlab is a great idea, but they need their own dedicated
studio space to work on pieces.  KW doesn't have much in the way of
cheap artist studio space at the moment.  An idea like this would
allow us to accommodate the needs of people we'd really like to have
as members, but for whom our existing model isn't as attractive.

Plus it gives us the ability to stretch for a larger space than we can
afford with membership alone, giving us room to grow in the future.
For example, there's a place in Madison Ave in Kitchener that looks
pretty good, but is way bigger than we can afford.
http://www.icx.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=12469269&PidKey=-690348270

Providing additional member storage is also an option.  If we went
with that Madison place, we could provide say 4x6' storage lockers in
the basement for, say, an additional $25/month.

Providing storage for non-project stuff isn't really in our mandate.
If we got a space with a large lot (like the Witney Pl location we're
looking at next week:
http://www.icx.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=12542816&PidKey=-1461969858)
we could maybe talk if a member wanted to store something like a
vehicle on the lot.  That's not something we'd offer to the public,
though, or try to sell as a benefit of joining Kwartzlab.  'Cuz we
don't want to just be a place where people dump their crap.

Darcy.

On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 11:24 AM, Chris Bruner <cbruner at quadro.net> wrote:
> Just to add to the discussion, if an area can be walled off that can store
> vehicles it may be worth while. Say 3 vehicles for winter storage at $150 a
> month. Get 4 months in advance in cheques which gives us time to build our
> membership up. The maintenance is zero, and tarps can be used if we are
> walling off with just a cage so dust isn't a problem.
>
> I'm just saying that the storage might be a good solution over the winter,
> but we would have to move fast, as that market is closing.  And it will
> provide the extra needed until our members can support the space (with
> bigger tools!).
>
>
>
> On 11/16/2012 10:36 AM, Bob DeGregory wrote:
>
> "You might get the general public renting such a space for a short while
> too.  Maybe something like this is already available, but I'm not aware
> of it."
>
> I've been informally following the public shared space concept for many
> years in multiple locations (Hamilton/Burlington, Upstate NY-several
> locations, and now K-W Guelph to name the ones where I've lived.). In terms
> of workspace, those folks who have tried to build a business on what I would
> characterize as a revolving door model don't seem to enjoy much longevity.
> Conversely, storage facilities (which some customers work out of to a
> limited extent) tend to do well, but require economies of scale that we
> aren't likely to see.
>
> Please do not interpret this as a thumbs-down on the idea Ben/Darcy et.al.
> are exploring. I'm just saying the niche we are most likely to be successful
> focussing opon will exclude 99% of public.
>
> On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 9:53 AM, Chris Frey <cdfrey at foursquare.net> wrote:
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 08:44:51PM -0500, Kyle Spaans wrote:
>> > On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 07:36:49PM -0500, Ben Brown wrote:
>> > > Just off the top, who would be interested in say, renting a 8x8' space
>> > > for $100/mo to keep large projects in? (aside from me).
>> >
>> > I can't say that I have a pressing need for that kind of storage space,
>> > but I
>> > think it's a nice compromise for getting us more space.
>>
>> I don't think storage is the only application.  If there's space to
>> put, say, a car, then it could be used as a self-repair garage too.
>>
>> You might get the general public renting such a space for a short while
>> too.  Maybe something like this is already available, but I'm not aware
>> of it.
>>
>> - Chris
>>
>>
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>
>
>
>
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> --
> Chris Bruner
>
>
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