[NewMusic] Latest 21 Grand info ... We are not closed ...yet

[Phillip Greenlief]

Dear Sarah and Darren,
   
  I'm so behind you. If I can help doing any of the actual work, I would be happy to lend a hand. I can also make a small donation in September...money has been ridiculously tight this year.
   
  If there is any thing I can do, please drop a line or give me a call. I have more free time during the summer (when I'm not teaching at three schools) and am available to help in any way you think I might be helpful. I've done plumbing work, and can install pipe, hook up fixtures and stuff like that. I'm terrible at electric stuff...but know a pretty handy electrician who might be willing to do some work for a low price since you are such a great service to the community. (Cremaschi is handy with this stuff, but he's out of town...damn!).
   
  Please let me know if there's anything I can do....
   
  Would it be easier to think about a new location? I LOVE the space you're in, but perhaps it would be easier ultimately...or do you think this kind of problem is destined to pop up again....?
   
  Much love and respect,
  Phillip
   
  

Sarah - 21 Grand <21grand at 21grand.org> wrote:
  I get the occasional email asking if we've reopened, or if we're "still
closed." No, we are not closed ... yet

The latest news: the real challenge, okay challenges, with updating people
on what's going on with 21 Grand is translating the bureaucratic issues (and
there are multiple bureaucracies at play with different, yet some
overlapping, issues) into simple statements. The other challenge is that
things are still up in the air.

After unintentionally managing to escape attention from the authorities for
several months, we came back under scrutiny a couple weeks ago. It was the
same story as 7 months ago - we need the building department and fire
department to agree that our building is "safe" enough to have events. Not
just one event, but regular events. This was the real challenge. After many
hours of emails, office visits, and inspections, we got the fire department
and building department to agree to let us have the 12 or so shows we had
scheduled through August 17th ... with no more than 49 people in the
building. 

What happens after that? We're not sure yet. They want us to show progress
towards bringing the building up to code. Some of these things will be
expensive. One of these things, that they just determined we would need to
do is install fire sprinklers. We will need to do some upgrading of the
building for seismic (earthquake) purposes. This might be expensive, this
might be not-too-expensive.

However, we cannot afford to pay for all of this ourselves. We would need
the building owner to pay for some of it. The building owner could say no.
If the building owner says no to paying for some of the upgrades, then 21
Grand would either a)move again or b)close.

Obviously this is a major decision, and we (Sarah and Darren and our board
of directors) don't take it lightly. We want to know what people think. We
want your feedback. You can comment and discuss this stuff here, or email me
at 21grand at 21grand dot org.

We may have a more formal poll or survey to send out, if that makes it
easier to respond/organize your thoughts.

Thanks for reading.
sl


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