new studio opportunity!

attention to all who are looking for a new studio in Beacon...

The owner of a 15,000 sq ft building in Beacon is considering turning it into artist studios. They want to meet with potential tenants to ensure there is enough interest to make it financially viable.

come to a meeting Tuesday night April 12th
7pm at the Coffee Shoppe

to hear what they have to say.

BACA meeting this Wednesday

Wednesday March 23rd at 6:30 there will be a BACA meeting at 211 Fishkill Ave aka Beacon Studios. Ethan Cohen will fill us in on his plans for the building-if he bothers to show up.

Be there.

Maple St.

exterior of bldg.

interior has roll-up door for truck

interior has lights, power

blurry shot of 1 office

Rick and I went to look at a property tonight on Maple St., 2 blocks north of Beacon Studios. This is 4000 sq. feet of raw space for $2500 a month. That works out to be about $.62 a square foot. There are three spaces already built out but the rest is raw space. Unlike many of the other spaces we’ve looked into, this has heat, plumbing and electric ready to go. The downside is, of course, that there are no walls and it would have to be built out at the expense of whoever moves in. The upside, this is the cheapest space we have seen yet.

How to approach this…I have met the landlord and have spoken to him about a group of artists using the space which he is not opposed to. To rent this space there would have to be some business arrangement wherein the landlord would receive one check for the full amount of the rent so someone has to step up and take responsibility for that one check. Or a business group must be formed.

I have checked into every space I can think of. After this, I am out of ideas.

Please have a look at the pictures, discuss and let me know what you think.

the Presbyterian Church on Liberty St.

I went to the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday morning to have a look at what they have to offer. As you can see their spaces are very raw. They had some issues with water coming in and they recently removed some mold. BUT there are 5 big rooms about 15x20, each with doors and windows, and a common area which could possibly be divided. The place needs a LOT of work. The church has formed a committee to decide what to do with the space. The pastor is leaning towards artist studios because it follows his mission of community outreach and because they would like to have some income. But it will be a while before anything happens with this place.

Jan 24 meeting

About 20 people attended a meeting at the Coffee Shoppe last night to share information about the status of our studios. Most everyone is planning on leaving the building, we just need to determine the best method for biding our time until we all have a place to go.

Rumor has it:
-there will be leases offered to us.
-we will be asked for first, last, and deposit upon signing a new lease.
-locks will be replaced with digital keypads

Unknown:
-when we will be offered these new leases
-if you choose not to sign a lease, how much time do you have to get out? 30 days? 90 days?

Facts:
-211 Fishkill Development Corp. has hired a real estate lawyer for the purpose of preparing eviction notices.
-if you have anything in a common area that does not have your name on it, it will be considered property of the new owner and will be removed.
-Monday Jan 24 the door to suite 205 was found locked (by a key) denying all 3 tenants (who have never had a key to that door) access to their studios.
-Dominico Petrillo (3rd floor) recently came in to to work in his studio and found the door to his studio wide open.

Potential new spaces:
-Beahive 261 Main St.
-the former Beacon Community Center on W. Center Street
-The Beacon Building on Main St. near Fishkill Ave.
-123 Rombout Ave
-the Presbyterian Church basement on Liberty St.
-Many an empty storefront on Main St.

Community Center

I got a quick look into the property that was once the Beacon Community Center on W. Center St. Here are some photos I took...all furnishings belong to the Community Center and will either be removed before a new tenant moves in (or can be bargained with new tenant)the main office has one window and a door w lock

the gym is 1200 sq ft and has a flimsy divider. this is the south view, below is the north view

this is the computer room- a "ready to go" room about 10x12

the big room is 800 sq ft which could be divided into several studio and has 2 full bathrooms

an attic room with no windows is less than 100 sq feet.

there are 2 adjoining offices (below) both very small. you have to go through one to get to the other.

meeting Jan 24th

I have been informed that there will be a meeting for Beacon Studios tenants to discuss the issues at hand. The meeting will take place next Monday January 24th at 7pm at the Coffee Shoppe.

Anyone with news from the January 17th meeting please comment here. Thanks!