4 ms·

> It's unclear what the specific issues causing them to close are but it's definitely not an issue of quality. It's pretty clear that they no longer have enoug

> It's unclear what the specific issues causing them to close are but it's definitely not an issue of quality. It's pretty clear that they no longer have enough money to continue operations and were too reliant on non-revenue based sources (grants/partnerships) to keep the doors open which seems to have run dry: The reality is, our organization is unsustainable in its current form. Our revenue streams over the years have been a mix of membership, ticket sales, and office rentals, but heavily reliant on grants and partnerships. At present, without a significant investor, major partnership, or direct injection of funds, our runway is not long enough to make the changes necessary for building long-term self-reliance. It's a shame, looks like a really interesting spot for tinkerers and hackers. Let's hope they do get a chance to come back as they say it will remain in some capacity. Sacramento is a long drive from the bay area, where you'd think most of the target demographic resides, but I'm guessing the rent prices on a space make it untenable.

groby_b 4y ago
> but I'm guessing the rent prices on a space make it untenable. There's quite a bit of industrial space at... let's call it "not entirely unreasonable" prices in e.g. Oakland or other areas further out. As a result, there's really no shortage of makerspaces in the Bay Area. (https://makernexuswiki.com/wiki/Maker_Spaces_In_San_Francisco_area https://makernexuswiki.com/wiki/Maker_Spaces_In_San_Francisc...)
public_defender 4y ago
> too reliant on non-revenue based sources (grants/partnerships) to keep the doors open I looked into joining NYCResistor a while back and the membership fee was quite high (I don't remember it and I don't want to give wrong info). It was the kind of fee that would exclude a lot of people who this kind of space was meant to benefit and undercut the ethos of hacker/makerspaces generally. On the other hand, rent in downtown Brooklyn is really high. It sounds like this space was using grant funding to keep individual fees down and thereby promote accessibility. That's really cool. I am sad to see that they're closing, but this might be better for the community than multiplying membership fee rates or other "revenue" to stay open. It's a hard call and I don't envy them.
- simfree 4y ago
  NYCResistor does look to drive engagement by discounting membership to $75 a month if you teach 2 classes a year. Given the location, and looking at pricing of comparable west coast makerspaces, this pricing model seems pretty fair. Without daily active users a makerspace or hackerspace will usually stop growing in membership, leaving it in a lurch where rent is going up, tools aren't getting upgraded, and the space is becoming less viable by the month :c
  - thrown_22 4y ago
    > NYCResistor does look to drive engagement by discounting membership to $75 a month if you teach 2 classes a year. That seems like a good idea until you've been through some of the courses I've seen people run at hacker spaces. You need a committee to vet the courses and fire instructors that are terrible.
mcint 4y ago
There are hackers and makers all over (https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces ) even in Sacramento.
- wheresmycraisin 4y ago
  The one in sacramento is the one that is closing down. The nearest one now is ~90 minutes away.

groby_b 4y ago

> but I'm guessing the rent prices on a space make it untenable. There's quite a bit of industrial space at... let's call it "not entirely unreasonable" prices in e.g. Oakland or other areas further out. As a result, there's really no shortage of makerspaces in the Bay Area. (https://makernexuswiki.com/wiki/Maker_Spaces_In_San_Francisco_area https://makernexuswiki.com/wiki/Maker_Spaces_In_San_Francisc...)

public_defender 4y ago

> too reliant on non-revenue based sources (grants/partnerships) to keep the doors open I looked into joining NYCResistor a while back and the membership fee was quite high (I don't remember it and I don't want to give wrong info). It was the kind of fee that would exclude a lot of people who this kind of space was meant to benefit and undercut the ethos of hacker/makerspaces generally. On the other hand, rent in downtown Brooklyn is really high. It sounds like this space was using grant funding to keep individual fees down and thereby promote accessibility. That's really cool. I am sad to see that they're closing, but this might be better for the community than multiplying membership fee rates or other "revenue" to stay open. It's a hard call and I don't envy them.

simfree 4y ago
NYCResistor does look to drive engagement by discounting membership to $75 a month if you teach 2 classes a year. Given the location, and looking at pricing of comparable west coast makerspaces, this pricing model seems pretty fair. Without daily active users a makerspace or hackerspace will usually stop growing in membership, leaving it in a lurch where rent is going up, tools aren't getting upgraded, and the space is becoming less viable by the month :c
- thrown_22 4y ago
  > NYCResistor does look to drive engagement by discounting membership to $75 a month if you teach 2 classes a year. That seems like a good idea until you've been through some of the courses I've seen people run at hacker spaces. You need a committee to vet the courses and fire instructors that are terrible.

mcint 4y ago

There are hackers and makers all over (https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces ) even in Sacramento.

wheresmycraisin 4y ago
The one in sacramento is the one that is closing down. The nearest one now is ~90 minutes away.