There's a Freemason's Temple right in the center of downtown Ithaca which has been empty for almost twenty years now. The local (reputed Mafia-tied) landlord that owns many buildings downtown bought it, has collected many grants and tax abatements through the downtown business association's efforts the whole time, and has done nothing with it. It's at least two floors, maybe three (?), with very few windows, and a lot of dark red carpet and wood accents inside. An enormous, blocky behemoth. But I remember going to some shows there when we first arrived back in 2001 and thinking, GOD! What a great space.
That is where I would put my Community Center For All, to host community meetings and book clubs and stich-n-bitch and drag shows and potlucks and all-ages underground punk shows and fundraisers and 12-step meetings and dance classes and all the things. A friend, who owns a wonderful bar and event space downtown, who thinks very deeply about community, posted this morning "The price of community is annoyance. That is all." I think I would place it on a plaque, right above the office. Just so we all can laugh ruefully together and then continue to get down to business.
I've been thinking so much about this! Hoosier Action is actively looking for a space to hold regular events and meetings to do just this sort of thing, but real estate is so ridiculous here, as I was reading, I kept thinking, "But what about the money?" And then you said, "But what about money?" Even buildings that look derelict are holding out for a developer to come give them top dollar. It's pretty frustrating, but we're not giving up! I am used to keeping an eye out as an old punk who has utilized and appropriated all sorts of unconventional spaces.
I don't often make an explicit case to rich people and foundations for where they should spend their money (nor do I have the ears of rich people and foundations) but I will be a broken record about this. People with money, buy property, pay to fix it up, and give it to people who will be good at doing this!
This topic will stay with me for a while, and I'll think about it in many ways. I would add that a few good washers/dryers for community use are important. If I were rich, I'd fund creative GenZs to create little oases of washer/dryer communities combined with community tool libraries, coffee shops, and soup kitchens, with Wi-Fi. Also, have you seen Ken Loach's latest film, 2023, The Old Oak? Lots of food for thought there.
When my then-new husband and I visited Reykjavik, we had a ball trying to do our laundry at a place very much like you describe. Cafe/bar/bookstore/laundromat (with no English instructions). A community space could source donated laundry equipment, charge way under market, and put the revenues back into very cheap snacks and comfy chairs. There is a recently vacated building on the main st of my town that would be so perfect for this. Garrett, thanks for getting my imagination going in this direction! If all you wrote were prompts toward community you would still be doing a huge service getting me out of my dystopian headspace.
I think this is key — we need to look to other countries for models — and the Nordic ones have been doing this work for a long time. That’s what I was trying to get at — a young GENZ woman I admire developed a simple app for friends to keep connected in a very simple way as her Master’s degree project in a human environmental engineering degree. We talked about community laundromats as a concept and I kept thinking how wonderful if some large philanthropic organization jumped in to work on this. It’s not cleaning water for desperate countries, and it’s still a fundamental need that needs nurturing and reimagining.
On your latest prompt, I just posted about old ladies from ‘the silent generation’ who have done the heavy lifting all their lives as a good role model.
Both ends of the spectrum. I wonder if they would fuse under the right prompt.
35 years ago, our community repurposed a defunct/unused elementary school into a county wide visual/performing arts center for all ages - my son studied there. The county built a new "modern" courthouse recentlyand left behind a very old (but beautiful) court building/offices. We wore out the old elementary school but secured the grand old courthouse with even more space for studious, events, performances and space for some of the nonprofits that can't afford rent elsewhere. With vision/persistence what you speak of can be done. I'm glad I didn't have to close my eyes and imagine.
PS My T-SHIRT size is 3XXX....:>} LMK when the raffle starts. Like the design.
I enjoyed this book too and also immediately thought of it (and libraries) as I read this piece just now. One of the things that bugged me about the book though is Klinenberg's implication that libraries are or should be everything to everyone-- I love libraries and their scope has rightfully expanded in a lot of fun and useful ways over the years! But I much prefer Garrett's invitation to imagine that we can have other kinds of third spaces too that do other things for us (in addition to libraries).
There is a goooooorgeous boarded-up church at the end of my block that was apparently sold in 2023 but does not appear to be used for anything, and every time I walk past I imagine what it would be like to turn it into this exact idea. SIGH! Someday?
There have been plenty of ideas and plans for it over the years, but nothing's panned out. I would love to go inside and look around! If I had, oh, a spare few million bucks, it would be SO IDEAL for this purpose.
Incidentally, there is a beautiful Elks Lodge located half a block away from that old library. I wouldn't say it's inclusive, though. I know someone who was interested in joining, but the Elks decree that "individuals must be American citizens" and "believe in God." He's a citizen, but he's also a nonbeliever.
I will say, though, that the opportunity to eventually have a title like Exalted Ruler or Esteemed Leading Knight is pretty darn cool, and the local membership seems diverse (in terms of race/sexuality, at least, even if atheists technically aren't allowed).
Perfect thoughts on two key elements here-- the first is that these buildings are here and they are gorgeous and this would be a very good use of rich people money. The second is that there is a lot to learn from the Elks of the world... BUT we can do better. A little inclusivity and political spikiness makes it magic.
I kid you not, a month ago I registered a Pennsylvania benefit corporation for this very purpose, called The Loyal Order of Prairie Dogs. Stay tuned.
Very, very excited by this development
There's a Freemason's Temple right in the center of downtown Ithaca which has been empty for almost twenty years now. The local (reputed Mafia-tied) landlord that owns many buildings downtown bought it, has collected many grants and tax abatements through the downtown business association's efforts the whole time, and has done nothing with it. It's at least two floors, maybe three (?), with very few windows, and a lot of dark red carpet and wood accents inside. An enormous, blocky behemoth. But I remember going to some shows there when we first arrived back in 2001 and thinking, GOD! What a great space.
That is where I would put my Community Center For All, to host community meetings and book clubs and stich-n-bitch and drag shows and potlucks and all-ages underground punk shows and fundraisers and 12-step meetings and dance classes and all the things. A friend, who owns a wonderful bar and event space downtown, who thinks very deeply about community, posted this morning "The price of community is annoyance. That is all." I think I would place it on a plaque, right above the office. Just so we all can laugh ruefully together and then continue to get down to business.
Ok ok ok I am very invested in this building finding its way into good hands now and also here is the most delightful wikipedia list imaginable
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Odd_Fellows_buildings
Nice! Ours isn't on that list, but there's a pic of it in this article: https://www.ithaca.com/special_sections/readers_writes/masonic-temple-eyesore-scars-ithaca-s-downtown-appeal/article_8361e84e-91d6-11ed-904b-7b54e3ec5fc7.html
I've been thinking so much about this! Hoosier Action is actively looking for a space to hold regular events and meetings to do just this sort of thing, but real estate is so ridiculous here, as I was reading, I kept thinking, "But what about the money?" And then you said, "But what about money?" Even buildings that look derelict are holding out for a developer to come give them top dollar. It's pretty frustrating, but we're not giving up! I am used to keeping an eye out as an old punk who has utilized and appropriated all sorts of unconventional spaces.
And also always here for the Samson.
I don't often make an explicit case to rich people and foundations for where they should spend their money (nor do I have the ears of rich people and foundations) but I will be a broken record about this. People with money, buy property, pay to fix it up, and give it to people who will be good at doing this!
This topic will stay with me for a while, and I'll think about it in many ways. I would add that a few good washers/dryers for community use are important. If I were rich, I'd fund creative GenZs to create little oases of washer/dryer communities combined with community tool libraries, coffee shops, and soup kitchens, with Wi-Fi. Also, have you seen Ken Loach's latest film, 2023, The Old Oak? Lots of food for thought there.
When my then-new husband and I visited Reykjavik, we had a ball trying to do our laundry at a place very much like you describe. Cafe/bar/bookstore/laundromat (with no English instructions). A community space could source donated laundry equipment, charge way under market, and put the revenues back into very cheap snacks and comfy chairs. There is a recently vacated building on the main st of my town that would be so perfect for this. Garrett, thanks for getting my imagination going in this direction! If all you wrote were prompts toward community you would still be doing a huge service getting me out of my dystopian headspace.
Thank you for realizing that my own personal path towards sanity these days has very much been "writing prompts towards community"
I think this is key — we need to look to other countries for models — and the Nordic ones have been doing this work for a long time. That’s what I was trying to get at — a young GENZ woman I admire developed a simple app for friends to keep connected in a very simple way as her Master’s degree project in a human environmental engineering degree. We talked about community laundromats as a concept and I kept thinking how wonderful if some large philanthropic organization jumped in to work on this. It’s not cleaning water for desperate countries, and it’s still a fundamental need that needs nurturing and reimagining.
On your latest prompt, I just posted about old ladies from ‘the silent generation’ who have done the heavy lifting all their lives as a good role model.
Both ends of the spectrum. I wonder if they would fuse under the right prompt.
Haven't watched the Old Oak but I love your idea!!
35 years ago, our community repurposed a defunct/unused elementary school into a county wide visual/performing arts center for all ages - my son studied there. The county built a new "modern" courthouse recentlyand left behind a very old (but beautiful) court building/offices. We wore out the old elementary school but secured the grand old courthouse with even more space for studious, events, performances and space for some of the nonprofits that can't afford rent elsewhere. With vision/persistence what you speak of can be done. I'm glad I didn't have to close my eyes and imagine.
PS My T-SHIRT size is 3XXX....:>} LMK when the raffle starts. Like the design.
BG
Where is this? Sounds like a great use of space! And also, thanks for the heads up on t shirt sizes-- we'll make sure we have a wide range.
Recommended reading: Eric Klinenberg's Palaces for the People, which I think you've mentioned on here before. It's outstanding!
I enjoyed this book too and also immediately thought of it (and libraries) as I read this piece just now. One of the things that bugged me about the book though is Klinenberg's implication that libraries are or should be everything to everyone-- I love libraries and their scope has rightfully expanded in a lot of fun and useful ways over the years! But I much prefer Garrett's invitation to imagine that we can have other kinds of third spaces too that do other things for us (in addition to libraries).
Ooh good rec!
There is a goooooorgeous boarded-up church at the end of my block that was apparently sold in 2023 but does not appear to be used for anything, and every time I walk past I imagine what it would be like to turn it into this exact idea. SIGH! Someday?
https://www.bhhsmichiganrealestate.com/commercial/mrd/11921386/5253-n-kenmore-avenue-chicago-il-60640
shut the hell up, that's gorgeous!
So close to Green Mill!
Always here for the Samson!
The t-shirt design is rad!
now it's not just me who think so!
Look at this old Carnegie library, which has stood empty since I moved to town 17 years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_Free_Library
There have been plenty of ideas and plans for it over the years, but nothing's panned out. I would love to go inside and look around! If I had, oh, a spare few million bucks, it would be SO IDEAL for this purpose.
Incidentally, there is a beautiful Elks Lodge located half a block away from that old library. I wouldn't say it's inclusive, though. I know someone who was interested in joining, but the Elks decree that "individuals must be American citizens" and "believe in God." He's a citizen, but he's also a nonbeliever.
I will say, though, that the opportunity to eventually have a title like Exalted Ruler or Esteemed Leading Knight is pretty darn cool, and the local membership seems diverse (in terms of race/sexuality, at least, even if atheists technically aren't allowed).
Perfect thoughts on two key elements here-- the first is that these buildings are here and they are gorgeous and this would be a very good use of rich people money. The second is that there is a lot to learn from the Elks of the world... BUT we can do better. A little inclusivity and political spikiness makes it magic.
This reminds me of a Jane Jacobs quote I’ve always loved:
“New ideas need old buildings.”
Kendsie, let me know if you ever want to brainstorm or think through any ideas! You’re definitely not alone!!