Winter Base of Operations - 500 W. Cermak v. 2

[ZSigman]

HOUSING PROPOSAL – WINTER BASE OF OPERATIONS

Housing committee voted to endorse this location on November 30, 2011. This endorsement is in accordance with our mission statement, which is available for perusal on the Occupy Chicago website. This proposal is to lease both units presented and use them simultaneously to satisfy the movement’s varied needs for space.
RIVERFRONT WORK LOFTS - 500 W. CERMAK
(2147 S. LUMBER – MAIN ENTRANCE)
TRANSPORTATION -
• This location is five blocks from the Cermak red line
• It is 2.8 miles from Jackson and LaSalle
• It is within walking distance from a night owl bus line
• It is easily accessible from the highway, and has free and plentiful on street and lot parking
We propose leasing both of the following units:
UNIT 501: 3393 sq. ft., $3100/mo.
Unit 501 would be a working space for committees and a base for tech and other committees in need of lockable working spaces.
• It includes a kitchenette with a refrigerator and microwave.
• It includes a bathroom with a private toilet, sink, and Jacuzzi bathtub.
• There are three soundproofed spaces that could fit two to five desks each.
• There is one soundproofed space that could fit one desk.
• AC is installed in unit.
• This unit includes a larger meeting space for approx. 30 people.
• It includes two smaller rooms that could fit 10-15 people for committee meetings.
• It includes two eternal, wall-mounted, waterfalls.
Unit 700: 2489 sq. ft., $2489/mo.
Unit 700 would be a large open space to be used for winter G.A. meetings as well as teach-ins, art projects, trainings and larger events organized and hosted by Occupy Chicago.
• This unit includes a bathroom with a sink and toilet.
• It includes a kitchenette with a refrigerator.
• The walls in this unit are painted and the floors are nicely finished.
• This unit includes a suspended shelving/storage area (previously used to support a projector)
• The floors below and above this unit are exclusively used for storage
• The Fire Marshall has indicated that this space would require four square feet per person standing, giving us a maximum occupancy of ~622.
GENERAL INFO:
• All utilities, including electricity, heat (in some cases AC as well), trash, gas, and water, are included in the rent.
• Rent is month to month, it is also possible to pay a lump sum up front for an established period of time.
• Benefactor X has indicated their desire to donate around $3000/mo. towards housing for Occupy Chicago.
• There are private, working bathrooms available in each of the units we’re pursuing. Additionally the fifth and seventh floors have two bathrooms available for general use.
• Freight & passenger elevators are available for general use.
• Loading dock is available.
• We are free to paint the walls and generally make our spaces our own so long as we make no structural changes without management’s approval.
• There are separate, secure, inexpensive, storage units available for rent in the building.
• The building, originally the Thompson and Taylor Spice Company, was built in 1911. For more information regarding the history and politics of the area and building, please direct questions to Kristy or Bill.



ADDITIONAL SPACE:
• There are many more spaces available in the building to satisfy our growth as a movement. As of today, December 9, 2011, management has indicated that there are additional spaces between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet available on the seventh floor, a 15,000 square foot space on the first floor, and several 4,000 – 6,000 square foot spaces available throughout the building. Pricing for these units would be less than $1/square foot, however, no specifics have been discussed as of yet.
• Management expressed the desire for our movement to grow with them, and for them to grow with the movement. They want to support us in our growing needs.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT:
Any of the following three qualifications will trigger a process of moving our base of operations to a new space:
1.) If the weekly average of GA attendance is greater than 75% of the legal maximum occupancy of the space.
2.) If the attendance on three consecutive Friday or Saturday GAs exceeds 75% of maximum occupancy.
3.) If any of the codes required by law for a commercial space to posses are discovered to be missing or unsatisfied.

Here is a link to the photos:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... 1&hl=en_US

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

Why is this preferable to a street level location with visibility and walk in access?
This location isn't easy to get to. It is quite a hike from the L. And as long as you are willing to leave the loop, you do have more attractive options than this location.

[JWy]

Congratulatilons on finding a location. If I remember correctly, I think the Archer Ave. bus goes near this building.

When people visit the new space, if they are able, they will problably be happy to drop a few buck into a donation box to assist with paying the building expenses. I know I would. I don't know if there might be some reason a donation box should not be used though.

[ZSigman]

JWy,

Thank you. The donation box is a wonderful idea. I think it would be a good idea if it weren't just for housing expenses, but for donations as a whole. I'm sure we'll discuss it at GA when the time comes.

[sheryl]

So, 500 Cermak is the winter base, final vote?

From everything I've read, this does not seem like an ideal spot. Yes, it's true, I haven't been able to make it over the last few weeks, but I'm here online every single day and otherwise engaged in the movement. This choice of space illustrates just how much we need to be able to vote via online access. I was really rooting for the storefront space across from Grace Place.

Can I get any feedback regarding the space across from GP? Why was this not a viable alternative? A walk-in storefront and in the location that we were familiar with sounded great. 5oo Cermack seems really far off the path, IMHO. I've been trying to stay informed as best as I'm able.

Hoping for a response...

[blacklite911]

Store front imo is too small plus the owner is a 1%er and may not like occupy but there was not enough information available at the time of the vote.

Cermak is as good as any location outside the loop. But the pluses for cermak are the great inside spaces that are pretty amazing. If you can see the pictures you'd love it. Maybe they're around somewhere.

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

That is really a disingenuous answer. There was no time because of the political maneuverings that went on concerning this critical initiative. We're used to that, because that's the way we're already treated by the people in power.
The public discussion began with an argument already polarized leaving no room for new practical considerations.
Before anyone out of the know could gather the facts, another vote was scheduled gussied up with a couple of non-starter alternatives to demonstrate how open minded and democratic you all are.

So now you'll be coming clean on your intentions for this space.
Tell me your not thinking of staying here through spring and summer!
Google it and look at the map!
Can you seriously not see the fatal flaw in this location. Look at a map. When the authorities decide, for whatever reason to contain or detain you, this centralized location makes their work much simpler. 1.You have no where to go 2.few people will be inconvinienced by their operations. The FBI and the Chicago Police couldn't be happier with this decision to move here.

from the GA minutes
"Midwest Occupations are looking to us to be a hub. Occupations want to come here and organize nationwide. Cermak is perfect for G8/NATO. Majority of occupations are being raided. We need a place that’s ours."

Sure it'll be yours from the inside, for those foolish enough to come in. Solves the City's problem with where to put the "designated protest space" this spring.

[Ella Mae]

I, for one, think (from the photos) its a great space, and the best thing about it is there IS a lot of space. Hopefully many good actions will be planned from there and many good meetings held there. And I think it's great that there will be a place for visitors to come for the G8 events. Also, it's on the South side and hopefully we can connect more with Occupy the Hood.

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

It is a beautiful space, but I do think my comments are strategically valid and need to be considered.

When this development opened, I considered moving my operation there. It is still hard to get to without a car, the travel time by public transportation consumes more time, money, and energy. These simple facts haven't changed. This is not a Northside
Southside issue unless you keep making it one.

Why can't we talk about the grey areas objectively? The flaws, which exist everywhere, no place is perfect, will show themselves, let's be realistic and resolve what we can.

[blacklite911]

I have no car and rely on public transportation and I'm fine walking a couple blocks. Its not really that far from public trans if you know how to navigate the city (which is not hard to learn.)
I have to spend time money and energy to get to jackson and lasalle and the horse already (one bus and .5 miles of walking or 1 transfers and still some walking), in fact, most people do because downtown isn't really a residential area so I don't see a real difference in getting to cermak, I'm still gonna have to take multiple buses and walk. So if you're gonna talk about personal obstacles in travel time, I for one don't see a difference. In fact, there's actually gonna be free parking unlike downtown so its gonna be a plus for commuters.

I really don't see the concern for police or whatnot because if the police want to raid us, they'll do what they want, end of story. We can't stop them from that.

If there was a lack of information on other properties, thats simply the fault of individuals. You can't make people do anything they don't want to do.

There was ample time for people to gather facts on properties, we've been talking about a winter indoor location since october, people just started getting serious about it recently because its cold. Saying there was no time isn't an excuse.

Lastly, there will be working groups established to look for alternatives/satellite locations. If you want to work on it, no one will be stopping you.