Grex needs to move!  

Because of building issues, the city has decided that we can no longer use
the space we have been in for the last couple of years.  So, Grex needs to
find a new space to live and run in.

Our basic needs are a 75-100 square foot room, with electricity and able to
have phones lines run in.  We need ventilation and 24 hour access, but we
don't needs windows or anything fancy.

23 responses total.

How is Grex searching for space?  I've been reading the Sunday AA Snooze
classifieds in searching for Arbornet space.  This may not be enuf,
considering time constraints, for Grex.  Have you considering
hiring a realtor to look for space?

At last night's Board meeting, STeve Andre' said that he has talked to about
3 realtors, and will be looking at some spaces.  Other people have been
working thru professional connections, etc.  We probably can't just find what
we want in the classifieds, since we have such unusual requirements and a very
low budget.

(In fact, I would be shocked if we found anything suitable through
the AANews.  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.)

could grex move to arbornet supreme headquarters temporarily, like for a month
or two until something suitable is found?  If they have room, maybe it would be
a way to buy a little time.  Better to set up someplace temporarily then to 
sign a long term lease hastily without taking the time to look around.

Was there any discussion about the contact I mailed the BoD about at last
nights meeting?  Sorry i couldn't have been there...freedom festival fireworks
and all that.. {WOW}!

Re: 5:  Yes, scg is interested in looking at it.  I really do want us to
actually look at spaces, rather than just coming up with email why they won't
work.

Arbornet itself is looking at moving, kerouac.

Did the Grex Board decide anything about space sharing with Arbornet?

Re 4:  The time, effort, and money reuired for each move are significant. 
A temporary move should probably be avoided.

A temporary move should be avoided, by all means, but that
doesn't mean we should rule it out.

There are lots of buildings for sale or lease around ann arbor.  Isn't there
any suitable one that we can find as of yet?

The trick is that we have to be able to afford it.  There is lots of space,
but all of it at Ann Arbor prices.  :(

And generally far larger than we need.  There's a wonderful
space in the Galleria that's been open for over a year now -
if we're willing to rent at least 1400 square feet.  We need
less than one tenth of that.

If grex needed someplace to go temporarily, it could live wth arbornet 
for a month or two.  Pay part of the rent.  Borrow a couple of m-net's 
phone lines and be mostly telnet only, but at least still be up.  Since 
it would onlybe temporary, it wouldntbe practical to install new hone 
er...phone lines but otherwise  arbornet's homne would be set up with the 
needs that grex has, and arbornet could use the money that would be saved 
from sharing rent for a few weeks.  This would give grex board the time 
to find someplace idedeal, as opposed to merely "barely suitable".  

And how long would it take Arbornet's board to approve us stealing their phone
lines?

I'm sure the M-Net users would *love* losing their phone lines
to us, too.

for one thing, in addition to al the other problems realted to
linking space with arbornet, is the fact that the New Center leases
are only for ONE year ...and extnetions are rare. the New Center guarantees
that Grex WILL move again in about a year. this conference, and item are 
to establish a safe haven for grex for SEVERAL years.

What about space in the NewCenter- we're non-profit, after all?
What about becoming a landlord to other computer-related concerns, especially
if they're non-profit? That is, if one of those empty spaces seems worth 
dealing with?  It would take some doing to sell it to the IRS, but I think
it can be done.  (oops, sorry- I see that TS already answered why not the
NewCenter.)

<bjorn imitates Homer Simpson by slapping his head and yelling "D'oh!">

If you'd like a better reason for "Why not the New Center?",
remember that M-Net got that space by promising to staff their
office during business hours and help ALL the other groups
at the new Center with their computer problems.  Is this something
we want to do for any lease, never mind a two year lease?

Besides which, Arbornet's space is a closet with almmost zero ventilation,
which is one of the problems causing the modems to act up so often.  There's
no circulation and things overheat.  I don't think there would be space for
Grex, even if other things could be ironed out.

Does the new location have to be in AnnArbor?

Re: 21: Yes, for two reasons.  One, we'd like to keep our 761-3000 number,
which is a good reason to stay in Ann Arbor.  Also, we want to make it a local
call for people in Ann Arbor since they are used to that, so moves beyond Ypsi
would be bad.  The other is staff access.  Move it too far from where staffers
live, and reboots won't get done as quickly as they are now.

The Move conference will be nuked soon.  I've had the items linked to the
Storage conference for safekeeping (except those already linked to Coop or
Agora).

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