[Noisebridge-discuss] space report: 83C Wiese

[Rachel McConnell]

Second the enthusiasm, this looks very promising.  Regarding the smallness:

* could we build out the upper area to extend further to the front? 
Looks potentially possible if the landlord is OK with that.

* are the upstairs, or next-door, people permanently installed -- i.e. 
is there a chance of another vacancy in a year or two.

* how long of a lease would we have?  We could move elsewhere in a year 
if we really needed more space.

Can't wait to see it in person tomorrow.

Rachel

Jacob Appelbaum wrote:
> Andy Isaacson wrote:
>> Inspired by Tuesday's meeting, Shannon and I scheduled a viewing for a
>> newly listed space today.  It was very positive, and we're scheduled for
>> a re-visit at 1:00 tomorrow, Friday 9/25.
>>
>> http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/off/853914124.html
>> (note that the last photo on this post is of a different unit.)
>>
>> http://web.hexapodia.org/~adi/pix/200809-83c-weise/
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/60801485@N00/sets/72157607497772735/
>>
>>
> 
> This looks GREAT!
> 
>> The space is a ground-floor loft space that's literally 200 feet from
>> 16th/Mission BART.  The front door opens on Weise St, the very first
>> tiny alley branching north off of 16th St west of Mission St.  The
>> building is 4 commercial lofts, two ground level + two above.
>>
> 
> That's a good location. It's right next door (in the same building) to
> Station 40 even!
> 
>> The space consists of two levels.  The ground floor is about 30'x30'
>> wall-to-wall, but the bathroom and a built-out room and a utility locker
>> (not part of the space, PG&E access from the street) take up a
>> significant chunk.  The floor is tile over concrete, and there's major
>> tile damage that the landlord says will be fixed "this weekend".  The
>> loft is about 30'x12' and carpeted.
>>
> 
> This sounds good. The tile sounds like it could fit what we'd like and
> we can always put a rug over it if we care...
> 
>> The landlord seems incredibly cool.  "What do they do upstairs?"  "As
>> long as the rent gets paid I don't ask questions."  "We'd like to put in
>> card access."  "It's your space, do what you want."  "We don't have
>> papers yet."  "It's fine for individuals to sign the lease... it is no
>> problem to transfer to the corporation once it exists."
>>
> 
> That's great for us. Any idea what the people upstairs do?
> 
>> There are three spaces:
>>  - the big downstairs room, 30'x20' (plus bathroom and kitchen)
>>  - a smaller downstairs "fishbowl" room, 10'x12' approx + closet
>>  - the upstairs loft, 30'x15', shoji sliding screens + closets
>>
>> The upside:
>>  - electric service looks solid, I counted 8 20A breakers + 1 30A
>>  - kitchenette with electric stove, dorm fridge (stocked with Guiness!)
>>  - ventilation to roof from stove (easily extended to a fume hood or
>>    machine room)
>>  - lots of leftover startup wiring, we probably want to tear it all out
>>    and start over (eventually)
>>  - lots of room for presentations
>>  - 4 closets total (big, too); lots of nook and cranny storage space
>>  - "bike cubbyhole" near door
>>  - bathroom + shower (drain in middle of floor, ghetto but workable)
>>  - private entrance, we can do our own access control
>>  - incredibly convenient to BART and food and fun
>>
> 
> It sounds like the major thing we need to do is pull net and get a nice
> keycard access system. The power sounds overkill for what we'll be using
> from the start.
> 
> How many bikes would fit in the cubbyhole?
> 
>> The downside:
>>  - small, only 1ksf or so -- I'd be much happier with 1500.
>>  - not very much isolation; you'd have a hard time having a workshop
>>    upstairs while a presentation was happening downstairs.
>>  - front door opens on Wiese St, which is a crackhead urinal.
>>  - space opens directly out front door; crackhead theater in the street
>>    sounds very nearby.
>>  - space apparently has flooding problems (flooded in big rain in 200x)
>>
>> The landlord would like to move fast; if we give her a check for the
>> deposit before the beginning of next week she'll knock $100 off the
>> rent.
>>
> 
> The space is a little small from the descriptions and photos. It is
> however much larger than the current space of Nada at the corner of
> nothing. :-)
> 
> We can take a few approaches to the crackhead theater issue. I
> personally like the idea of an art installation out of the window. How
> about a soap bubble blowing machine? Perhaps some Merzbow to go along
> with it?
> 
> If we're really lucky, we can prepare for flooding before it happens.
> 
> It seems like we have some local friends (grey-) in the area that can
> give us a network drop for the time being...
> 
> Over all, I want to go for this space and I'll know this for certain
> tomorrow at 1pm!
> 
> Thank you so much Andy!
> 
> Best,
> Jake
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