New Space Planning
Suspended until further notice, as we're staying in the old space for another year.
Criteria for a new space:
Most Important:
Free Geek Chicago needs a new space which is:
- On the South Side or West Side of Chicago.
- Dave E. / other staff needs to identify some specific neighborhoods / zip codes to concentrate on.
- Rent must be under $1,000 a month.
- Real estate seems to be priced in dollars per square feet per year, rather than monthly.
- Greater than or equal to 2500 square feet ( Dave N. estimates 2500 square feet in our current space.)
Optional:
It also might be nice to have:
- Broadband access available ?
- Access to CTA/Public Transit (so customers/volunteers can get to us) ?
- (non-vile) Bathrooms ?
- Foot Traffic ?
- Daylight ?
- Truck Dock (for easy deliveries of new parts and removal of junk) ?
- Security: Space in an area where:
- middle / upper class equipment donors aren't afraid to visit us ?
- White motorists (or others who look like they "don't belong" in the neighborhood) are not automatically assumed by the police to be in search of drugs?
Ways we could save money:
- We are a 501 c3, so landlords may be willing to make a deal with us..
- Getting a space in an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Zone.
- Do the benefits of Enterprise Zones / Empowerment Zones apply to a non-profit like us?
- Empowerment Zone Map on the West Side
- Empowerment Zone Map on the South Side
Possible Spaces
- Industrial Council of Northwest Chicago: Near Damen & Fulton. The price is right, but the square footage is about half of what we want..
- 215 N. Damen
- 10 W 35th St - IIT Research Institute - on the south end of IIT campus. Need to call the realtor about rates.
Brokers
- Grubb & Ellis seems to have a lot of industrial property for rent in Chicago proper. Need to call them..
Possibly Helpful Links:
- Advice from eHow on How To Lease Industrial Space.
- They recommend going for a drive in the area that you are trying to buy property. Maybe we need to do this?
- Chicago Industrial Space at CityFeet.
- A search for industrial real estate on Craigslist.
- Nothing is coming up under Industrial Real Estate on Realtor.com
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