[Noisebridge-discuss] ADA Access for the future Noisebridge

Wed Feb 28 02:11:29 UTC 2018

We've begun posting notes, photos and documents up on a sharing service.
We'll start distributing those internally in the next 24 hours.

In the interest of protecting our search from parties not allied to our
mission, we should find a non-public means for having an accessible,
threaded conversation -like an internal mailing list.

Kevin

On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 5:38 PM, jarrod hicks <hicksu at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think people outside of our Slack are effectively excluded from full
> participation in our location searching, since that is where the
> collaboration is being done. We aren't having new-space meetings and
> updates regarding the search aren't really going out to the discussion list
> or wiki. (I've certainly failed in this regard) I think the last new space
> meeting was in December and it was Kevin who put the notes on discuss.
>
> It may help us move forward better as a whole if we get more of the new
> space discussion here instead of on, or in addition to, Slack.
>
> We could start individual threads for the promising locations or other
> discussion threads using a somewhat standard subject line like: "  -
> address or subject" for easy searching and filtering
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 4:05 PM, kprichard <kprichard at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Zach,
>>
>> *"Is equal access for all a fundamental part of Noisebridge's mission?"*
>>
>> It is!  Nobody should be prevented from coming to Noisebridge because of
>> disability.  Accessibilty is one of the top criteria when we talk about
>> when a space is being presented.
>>
>> In the nearly eight years since Noisebridge moved into 2169#3, market
>> rents have literally quadrupled.  Imagine a Noisebridge where we're paying
>> four times our current rent, Zach.
>>
>> Philanthropist & membership dues would be $320, not $80!  That would
>> leave Noisebridge inaccessible to most, if not all. (That's more than
>> double TechShop's old rates, without all their equipment.)
>>
>> To deal with that, we expanded our search to include spaces that are not
>> *currently* ADA accessible, because-
>> a) they fit our extremely limited size/location/price nexus (being only
>> 2-2.5 times more money), AND
>> b) we feel there's a good chance those spaces can be upgraded to
>> accomodate everyone.
>>
>> Note that I said "not currently ADA accessible."  Of the two spaces on
>> the table today, one is at least 90% compatible (and easily brought up to
>> 100%), and the other has a big hurdle (stairs) which the landlord might be
>> willing to help us overcome (I am waiting on an answer). And remember that
>> we have talented people with architecture and construction skills in our
>> membership.
>>
>>
>> * "I know finding an accessible space is going to be really, really
>> hard.  I do ask that people really try though.  That includes educating
>> ourselves around access and including disabled people in the search and in
>> the conversation."*
>> A perfect space meeting Noisebridge's accessibility, size, price,
>> location needs will not just fall into our laps. You can help Noisebridge
>> by joining the hunt and finding some spaces which fits our needs.
>>
>> Try loopnet.com and sfbay.craigslist.org, those seem to be the two main
>> services where industrial and flex properties get listed. Our current
>> criteria-
>>
>> 1. Accessibility: ground floor with wide doors, accessible bathrooms,
>> and/or an elevator if not ground or if multi-floor (or potential to be made
>> accessible)
>> 2. Price: the current rent is around $9.50/sqft/year, and we'd like to
>> keep it under $24/yr
>> 3. Location: consensus is to be within 10-15 minutes of BART and major
>> bus lines (that excludes Dogpatch, Bayview, Hunters Point etc)
>> 4. Size: 4,000 square feet, or more
>>
>> When you prioritize all four criteria equally, the number of vacant
>> spaces falls to zero. If we expand the search to spaces that we or the
>> landlord can modify for accessibility, we get a handful. Or, at least we
>> *did* get a handful, but now the market appears to have dried up. Prices
>> are rising, and vacancies are vanishing as tech firms continue to flood San
>> Francisco. That's why the two spaces on the table are not perfect.
>>
>> Call brokers and ask if they know about spaces meeting our criteria! The
>> more people who are involved in the hunt, the more chances we have at
>> surviving this fall.
>>
>> We're on your side, man!  Join us in the search!  Don't fight your fellow
>> Noisebridgers -- fight NB's impending doom at the hands of the most
>> nefarious villain of all, The Market. :)
>>
>> Best,
>> Kevin
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 27, 2018 at 3:09 PM, Zach R <organicunity at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>>      It was recently brought to my attention that the search for a new
>>> Noisebridge home has included many (perhaps solely) inaccessible places.
>>> Meaning, the future Noisebridge would not allow me, or anyone else in a
>>> wheelchair, walker, etc. to enter.  This would eliminate me from being
>>> part of the community entirely.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Now, I know the search for a new place is very rough, rents are
>>> exorbitant, and I would not want to stand in the way of Noisebridge
>>> continuing to exist.  But I think there needs to be a huge shift in the
>>> effort being put towards finding accessible spaces.  I have some ideas
>>> listed below.  But first, I want to pose a question to the community
>>> because I get different answers / opinions from different people:
>>>
>>>
>>> *Is equal access for all a fundamental part of Noisebridge's mission?*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't know the answer to that question, but I think it is a good one
>>> to talk about among the community.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Now, as far as an actual sincere effort to searching for an accessible
>>> space.  Here are some suggestions:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    - *Include disabled people in this conversation and ask them about
>>>    their needs* -this is very important.  Please don't assume what
>>>    people's needs are.  Please include some disabled people in the
>>>    closed-circle Noisebridge building search.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Call and ask the landlord exactly what accessibility looks like.  How
>>>    many steps are there?  What is the size of the door, gate, etc?  How
>>>    narrow / wide are hallways and entry areas?  Is there a large
>>>    single-occupancy bathroom?  What is the slope of the entry way?  Is
>>>    there a working elevator?  Relay this information to disabled
>>>    members for feedback and input /*before*/ going to a space, taking
>>>    pictures, and getting really attached to it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Reach out to organizations and do an internet search for
>>>    accessibility options, and laws around construction and such.  You,
>>>    yes, /you/ can actually step up to do some of this research.  Call:
>>>
>>>             *Senior Disability Action (https://sdaction.org/
>>> <https://sdaction.org/>  (415) 546-1333 <(415)%20546-1333>)*
>>>
>>> *            ILRC (https://www.ilrcsf.org/ <https://www.ilrcsf.org/>
>>> (415) 543-6222 <(415)%20543-6222>)*
>>>
>>>             or similar places to ask for advice.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I want to be clear that I don't expect to be a part of Noisebridge come
>>> August.  I know finding an accessible space is going to be really,
>>> really hard.  I do ask that people really try though.  That includes
>>> educating ourselves around access and including disabled people in the
>>> search and in the conversation.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I plan on attending the meeting tonight (which hopefully happens) in
>>> case anyone wants to discuss this stuff with me.  I do ask however,
>>> that you do not vent your frustrations on me.  I do not want to be the
>>> scapegoat for San Francisco's problems with ADA access and high rents.  As
>>> the most active wheelchair-using member of Noisebridge I have had to work
>>> overtime educating people about access, ableism, and advocating for myself.
>>> It's exhausting.  I am just trying to be a part of the community and I
>>> hope everyone can understand and respect that.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for reading this and taking the time to care about these issues.
>>> I look forward to our conversation and growth as a community together.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -Zach
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>> https://lists.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>> https://lists.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>
>>
>
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