Ithaca's Media Space

Table of Contents

Potential funding sources

• IRIS
• Edge Fund
• Resist Foundation
• CRESP
• Benefit concert
• Personal Low Interest Loans

Need to demonstrate the long-term soundness of the project and the organizational bodies behind it.

Potential 501c3's to channel funds through

• Southside Community Center
• Catholic Charities
• CRESP
• Urbana-Champaign IMC
• Become a 501c3 ourselves?

Functioning Examples

• StLouis's CAMP
• Euraction Hub Project
• ABC No Rio
• Walker Stage (houses IMC-NYC Video) -- ArcNLN - 23 Feb 2003

"Land Trust" discussion

Would we need to apply for non-profit status ourselves (6 months time frame)

Have other established non-profit put property (future space) into land trust themselves?

Locations for space:

616 W Buffalo St Old Advanced Auto Parts (near Greenstar)
Owner: Edward R Levene Agent: Steve LaPinski? (272-6323) 5526sq, 1 story (12' floor height) Appraised @ 199k Asking $297k High-Traffic Residential Area The Building is large, concrete floor, and contains four full-size garage bays in the back (only two doors). Last served as an auto parts store, unused for some time. Roof is flat, unknown condition. Residential homes surround on east and north sides, but sound proofing is a possibility by building "office space" along the east side of central space and installing a dropped ceiling over preformance space. Building to the west is an industrial welding shop which will provide sound dampening in that direction and garage bays to the north should provide sound dampening in that direction. The display out front is highly visible and atleast looks to be in good condition. Storefront windows in the front can be used for display, good public area for a computer lab, bookstore, etc. Preformance area can also display political art (ala ABC No Rio) and/or general meeting and workshop space for many different groups. Update The "For Sale" sign from the front window has been removed for some time, so this site is likely already sold. -- ArcNLN - 06 Sep 2003	Property Map Front View (facing north) Side View (facing north) Back View (facing west) Back View (facing south)
327 W State St Next to City Health Club
Owner: William F Kremer Appraised at 85k Appx 3000sq feet 7 bedrooms, 2 double sized Arsoned last fall Condition unknown Reportedly bad roof Full store front High visibility Includes kitchen This was our origional "first choice", we were looking into renting it when it was arsoned last fall, as many vacant buildings were around that time. It's last use was a pseudo-coop for several local activists, has beautiful hardwood floors and a small storefront with big windows close to the sidewalk. Very high visibility. The two larger rooms could easily serve as low-end studios with some sound proofing and other minor work, other rooms could serve as both rentable rooms to tenants (source of income) or office space to other organizations. Has some space for preformance in the downstairs, around 800sq ft, more if the storefront were to be opened into the main space. This might involve replacing the big storefront windows with soundproof glass. A full basement, which isn't included in the total sq feet, can also provide storage and prehaps even additional office or studio space. We know that the roof is leaking, especially over the storefront area, and likely needs expensive work done to repair it. This and other costs to repair need to be taken into account. There are not very many residential homes around the space. To either side is a convience store on the west and the city health club on the east. To the south (behind the building) are some homes, but sound is likely not an issue as this is away from the "preformance area" of the downstairs and also has trees/etc in the way. Across the street to the north there are some apartments above some buildings, but sound should not be a problem as long as we take some minor precautions. We contacted the building manager last fall to see about renting the building, he agreed to show us the space but never returned our calls after that. He stated that rent was $1100/mo, and expressed a desire to potentially rent a room for an office for his for-profit construction/design business. He also stated that the building was not for sale, but he is not the owner and has an interest in keeping it a rent property. He can be contacted through the city health club. Some work has been done recently to repair the damage done by the fire, but they don't seem to be in any hurry to repair it. We have not yet contacted the property owner and asked about purchasing the building or persued rent as a possibility since last fall. Update The doors to this building have been often open during the day, but apparently only to clean the interior. It does not appear that any repair or construction work is being done, no building permit has been posted. -- ArcNLN - 06 Sep 2003	Property Map Front View (facing south) Side View (facing south) Side View (facing south) Back View (facing north)
910 W State St "Triangle House" near octapus (also 901 Seneca)
Owner: Ralph E Thorpe Appraised at 113.5k 5000sq, 3 stories, (9' floor height) Divided into apts Several kitchens Likely not available It's a nice place, no other nearby residences. Currently has tenants, so would need to displace people to turn into IMC space. Could build IMC space into downstairs while keeping tenants to cover rent. Not enough space for many potential uses, no studio space, and not much foot traffic. Inbetween major roads, yet poor visibility. House reportedly in poor condition, may be available for much less than appraised tax value but may need more work than other spaces.	Property Map

Spaces we've also looking into

• 409 State St
  • 2 story store
  • 2437 sq ft
  • Residential Area, neibors on two sides
  • Not enough space for studios or live music
• Across from Greenstar (702 W Buffalo)
  • 273-4814
  • Part of 700 W Buffalo property, unknown owner, etc
  • Sold -- ArcNLN - 06 Sep 2003
• Masonic Temple (115 N Cayuga)
  • Jason Fane @ 273-9462
  • 17466sq, 2 story (13' floor height)
  • Appraised @ 425k (OUCH)
  • Reportedly, Oddesy closed due to noise
  • Residential Area
  • Oddessey (previous tenant) closed due to noise complaints
• "Jiffy King" (1006 W State)
  • Maria Pirro (agent 257-0666)
  • Appraised @ 51.5k (worth MUCH less)
  • Could expand building, little parking anyways
  • Too small! Great spot for restaurant, not IMC
• Home Dairy (143 State St)
  • Appraised 579k!!!
  • Nancy & Robert Avery
  • 4 Stories
  • WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!
  • Sold to cult, turning it into a cafe

Spaces we haven't looked into yet

• Old Locksmith on Seneca near Fulton
• Old Elks Club
• Old Club Semesters
• Building on Buffalo across from Dewitt Mall

Other organizations to potentially team up with

• NYFSS (New York Free Software Society)
  • Currently has 20+ computers ready for use
  • Looking to establish permanent public computer lab
  • Could use a lab for regular workshops
  • Shares membership with IMC Techs
  • History of helping other social change groups
  • Engaged in project at GIAC -- ArcNLN - 06 Sep 2003
• Ithaca Community Radio
  • May help with Radio Recording Studio^?
  • Could help either w/ rent or help with fundraisers
  • Jessie Lind replied that they don't need a space right now
• Anarchist Bookstore
  • Will draw more "foot traffic" to space
  • Volunteer staff can help with fundraising
  • Possibly pay rent for some of space
• Ithaca Show Syndicate
  • Could help with fundraising (bands play @ space)
  • May help with Music Recording Studio^?
• Food Not Bombs
  • Only possible if space has a kitchen
  • Shared membership with IMC, other orgs
  • Could serve @ fundraisers
  • Builds loyalty with more benefit bands
  • Seasonal activity, not viable through winter
• Books Thru Bars
  • Could benefit from permanent address
  • Doesn't need much space, mostly storage
  • Builds loyalty with more benefit bands
• Individual Tenants (to pay for rent)
  • Only works for some spaces
  • Residential zones = harder to do fundraising shows (noise)
  • Several local activists need affordable housing
  • Tenants could pay some rent w/ fundraising help

... and other orgs we've looked into/talked to:

• SeeSpot
  • Currently has space (108 The Commons)
  • Concerned of space visibility
  • Expressed an desire for own, seperate space in future
• Living Wage Coalition
  • Already have an office
• Durland Alternatives Library
  • Already have downtown location
• Ithaca Sharks^?
  • More likely moving into the Peace and Justice Center

Potential uses for the space:

• Radio Recording Studio^?
• Music Recording Studio^?
• TV Studio
• Media Gear Library^?
• Public Internet Access^?
• Print, Audio, and Video editing stations
• Zine Library
• DIY silkscreen, darkroom, etc
• Video screenings (fundraiser?)
• Live Bands (fundraiser?)
• Kitchen for Food Not Bombs^?
• Communication and Organizing
• Server hosting (see MontyInfo for example)
• "Business" address and phone number for all groups (Suite/Extn)
• more? extend me.

Concerns Raised

• Will we have enough volunteers to staff a large building?
  • The IMC does not currently have enough volunteers
  • Will having a space attract more volunteers?
  • The larger the space the more volunteers needed..
  • Is it worth having a space open only a few hours a week?
• How will we pay rent/morgage and utilities?
  • Have bands play at space?
    • Sound proofing? Neighbors? Social impact on neiborhood?
    • Alchohol served? Food? These both require permits.
    • How can this build image as a community resource?
    • Will it make the space feel like a youth hangout?
    • Problem: can create capitalist relationships with bands..
  • Grants?
    • From where? Who spends the time to write them?
    • Is not sustainable to rely on them..
    • Reduces independence of the space, creates power dynamic
  • Other fundraisers?
    • Detracts from energy put into working on improving space
    • Creates a money-raising atmosphere
• Who owns it?
  • If an individual, that person has power over group
  • If the IMC, then the IMC must become non-profit corp
  • If another group, that group has influence over the IMC
  • What's the process for putting it into a land trust?
  • What about drafting a space useage contract?
  • Who carries insurance on the building & contents?
• Asking for trouble?
  • May attract people who want to exploit the building, IMC
  • Need to build a stronger social base before space opened
  • Will space become target for police, gov oppression?

The Peace and Justice Center

• Likely opening in Autumn Leaves Used Books Jan 2004
• Many local groups will be involved, have offices/space there
• Not suitable for live music, that's for the bookstore cafe
• Progressive membership, unwelcoming to some local anarchists
• IMC @ PJC:
  • Pros
    • Could help get us started towards our own space
    • Would provide space for public media production
    • We're already there and setup with net access, etc
    • It downtown, easily accessable, good visibility
  • Cons
    • Limited IMC fundraising possibilities
    • Capitalistic atmosphere, many groups paying individual rent
    • It won't serve many "lower-class" and youth
    • Most progressives already have resources, don't need IMC space
    • Many uses (ie, studios) simply can't happen here
  • Status
    • Pete asked about net access
    • Will we be asked to pay rent? How much?
    • What will we be providing to the center? To what ends?
    • There's a micropower FM station starting @ bookstore

Mailing List

At the Ithaca Social Forum of 2003 (the only one so far) we decided to work towards a media center in Ithaca. 17 people signed up for a mailing list where work could continue, in addition to another list which would be used to build cooperation and solidarity between local alternative media groups.

Space List: http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-ithaca-space

Alternative Media List: http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-ithaca-altmedia

-- LucasShapiro - 13 Jan 2003 -- ArcNLN - 13 Apr 2003
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