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Jun 28
2009
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What To Do With Old Tired Clubhouses
Posted by: Eric Brown on Jun 28, 2009 01:00 Tagged in: Untagged
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What to Do With Outdated Clubhouses
For all the money that is spent on grand club houses by our industry, do they really add all that much value? Sure, they are impressive or at least are targeted to be that way to prospects, but for their cost verses benefit, it doesn't work.
From my old days at Village Green Companies I built somewhere between thirty five and forty clubhouses for them. In the early days a Clubhouse, Pool and all the Jazz went for a little under a half a million, (I am showing my age here LOL). The last few I did were up to a few million, without the pool. While they seemed pretty cool at the time, they never really got used much once residents are moved in. And, what to do with that space as they age. We have an idea at the Urbane Lab, Co Work Space.
What if you could transition part or all of your tied old clubhouse into a hip and cool Co Work Space that generates revenue, and potential prospects for your apartments. This is taking the old idea of a business center to an entirely different level.
Some coworking spaces were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffeeshops and cafes, or to isolation in independent or home offices.
Business accelerators, business incubators and executive suites do not seem to fit into the coworking model, because they often miss the social, collaborative, and informal aspects of the process, with management practices closer to that of a Cooperative, including a focus on community rather than profit. Many of the coworking participants are also participants in BarCamp and other related open source technology activities.
At Urbane Apartments we are getting ready to launch our first Co Work Space in Birmingham MI. We are building out the space now. I have no idea how to operate a Co Work Space, but have been interested in it for awhile. The space is is pretty cool, There will be 2-3 private offices, 2 private conference rooms, 12-15 desks, a lounge area, copy machines, etc There is also a great outside courtyard too.
The space was a small clubhouse, approximately 2,500 SF that was part of a (42) unit apartment complex that we purchased last Dec, and have rehabbed and repositioned the property, and have decided to try the Co Work Space idea.
We feel that the Co Work niche will fit well into what we are doing, and could well work for you too.
For all the money that is spent on grand club houses by our industry, do they really add all that much value? Sure, they are impressive or at least are targeted to be that way to prospects, but for their cost verses benefit, it doesn't work.
From my old days at Village Green Companies I built somewhere between thirty five and forty clubhouses for them. In the early days a Clubhouse, Pool and all the Jazz went for a little under a half a million, (I am showing my age here LOL). The last few I did were up to a few million, without the pool. While they seemed pretty cool at the time, they never really got used much once residents are moved in. And, what to do with that space as they age. We have an idea at the Urbane Lab, Co Work Space.
What if you could transition part or all of your tied old clubhouse into a hip and cool Co Work Space that generates revenue, and potential prospects for your apartments. This is taking the old idea of a business center to an entirely different level.
Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working
Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.Some coworking spaces were developed by nomadic internet entrepreneurs seeking an alternative to working in coffeeshops and cafes, or to isolation in independent or home offices.
Business accelerators, business incubators and executive suites do not seem to fit into the coworking model, because they often miss the social, collaborative, and informal aspects of the process, with management practices closer to that of a Cooperative, including a focus on community rather than profit. Many of the coworking participants are also participants in BarCamp and other related open source technology activities.
At Urbane Apartments we are getting ready to launch our first Co Work Space in Birmingham MI. We are building out the space now. I have no idea how to operate a Co Work Space, but have been interested in it for awhile. The space is is pretty cool, There will be 2-3 private offices, 2 private conference rooms, 12-15 desks, a lounge area, copy machines, etc There is also a great outside courtyard too.
The space was a small clubhouse, approximately 2,500 SF that was part of a (42) unit apartment complex that we purchased last Dec, and have rehabbed and repositioned the property, and have decided to try the Co Work Space idea.
We feel that the Co Work niche will fit well into what we are doing, and could well work for you too.
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Comments (11)
Sounds great, Eric! I've been looking forward to the progress on this since you first mentioned it. Have any pictures of the new space (or pictures of the progress in development)?
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Sounds pretty good Eric, and I would be curious as to how you get around the issue of the amenity being used for other than its intended use. Doesn't that change the perceived value of the units for some? Doesn't the municipality consider it a commercial use in place of a residential amenity? How do you handle phones? Who keeps track of rental time? Who polices all of this? Does the income offset all of the management, forgetting about profit? Is it all done on a volunteer basis?
I'm sure you'll run into tons of other issues, and hopefully you'll deal with them successfully. Please keep us informed. With all of these clubhouses being just so much wasted space, and with internet access (and this economy) making home of adjunct offices more appealing, it sounds like a winner. Of course, even the winner comes out a bit bloody.
I'm sure you'll run into tons of other issues, and hopefully you'll deal with them successfully. Please keep us informed. With all of these clubhouses being just so much wasted space, and with internet access (and this economy) making home of adjunct offices more appealing, it sounds like a winner. Of course, even the winner comes out a bit bloody.
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Brent and Bob, Thanks for commenting.
Bob, We have addressed some your your questions, while others remain open. We have never been in the Desk Rental Business, which is essentially what the Co Work Space is.
Remember, part of this idea is around the point to by design collaborate residents and non residents together in a shared space, albeit they are paying to be there, but are not a resident. It will be interesting to see how many residents we may land form that.
Bob, We have addressed some your your questions, while others remain open. We have never been in the Desk Rental Business, which is essentially what the Co Work Space is.
Remember, part of this idea is around the point to by design collaborate residents and non residents together in a shared space, albeit they are paying to be there, but are not a resident. It will be interesting to see how many residents we may land form that.
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Eric,
Great article and I am very intrigued with the idea. Although it sounds like there are real logistics to figure out, the overall concept is unique and innovative and I believe would be very well received. Best of luck with your roll out and I look forward to hearing how this progresses for you.
Great article and I am very intrigued with the idea. Although it sounds like there are real logistics to figure out, the overall concept is unique and innovative and I believe would be very well received. Best of luck with your roll out and I look forward to hearing how this progresses for you.
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Hi Lesa, Thanks for your comment.
You are right, there are lots of logistics to figure out, and I have no clue what they will be or how to figure out to eke a profit from this, but we will see.
But here is a side benefit that I am banking on, the folks that use Co Work Spaces are already our target demographic, and I am banking that if we have a hip and cool space, they are telling their friends about that space and we can enhance our Urbane Evangelists, but we shall see.
You are right, there are lots of logistics to figure out, and I have no clue what they will be or how to figure out to eke a profit from this, but we will see.
But here is a side benefit that I am banking on, the folks that use Co Work Spaces are already our target demographic, and I am banking that if we have a hip and cool space, they are telling their friends about that space and we can enhance our Urbane Evangelists, but we shall see.
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I think this is just an AWESOME use of clubhouse space. Brent and I have been talking about this idea for over a year now, and I'm excited to see Urbane make it real.
Coworking is a trend that is catching on in many areas -- there are some great success stories in San Francisco, Montreal, Philadelphia and many other areas. Just think of all those freelancers working from home or from Starbucks ... build a place for them to work and collaborate, and you open your community up to a completely new audience.
Good luck, Eric ... I'm looking forward to seeing it the next time I'm in town.
Coworking is a trend that is catching on in many areas -- there are some great success stories in San Francisco, Montreal, Philadelphia and many other areas. Just think of all those freelancers working from home or from Starbucks ... build a place for them to work and collaborate, and you open your community up to a completely new audience.
Good luck, Eric ... I'm looking forward to seeing it the next time I'm in town.
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I like the idea as on who works from home. Sometimes it just feels too quiet...until my four year old comes home from preschool.
However, to answer your very first sentence, which was a valid question, I can say that the clubhouse doesn't have to be an unused amenity. If you are hosting events on a regular basis, which residents are really desiring right now, you will see usage pick up. Residents are looking for places to host parties for their own personal events, and if the cost is low enough, the clubhouse is a great solution and an income generator.
Anyway...good luck to you!
However, to answer your very first sentence, which was a valid question, I can say that the clubhouse doesn't have to be an unused amenity. If you are hosting events on a regular basis, which residents are really desiring right now, you will see usage pick up. Residents are looking for places to host parties for their own personal events, and if the cost is low enough, the clubhouse is a great solution and an income generator.
Anyway...good luck to you!
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Thanks Mike,
Urbane will be looking to you and @30Lines to help us automate a lot of stuff as we progress. In case folks here didn't know, @30Lines is an Electronic Architecture Genius, and can figure out more ways than Sunday to utilize RSS Feeds!
Urbane will be looking to you and @30Lines to help us automate a lot of stuff as we progress. In case folks here didn't know, @30Lines is an Electronic Architecture Genius, and can figure out more ways than Sunday to utilize RSS Feeds!
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Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for the insight, and we agree with you. The wonderful thing is, the space can be universal, and do a combination of both. We plan to host lots of community events, classes, etc.
Thanks for the insight, and we agree with you. The wonderful thing is, the space can be universal, and do a combination of both. We plan to host lots of community events, classes, etc.
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When I was 13 my Mom used the 2-story clubhouse (at our apartment community) to throw me one wicked birthday party. It was awesome, one of my fondest memories and my friends LOVED it.
I think that people forget the clubhouse is there, and available for things like parties. If there is no grand plan for transforming the clubhouse, why not send out a reminder for events that can be scheduled there.
Examples: Mary Kay/Avon parties, birthdays, anniversaries, work-related meetings and conferences (if there's WiFi), community holiday parties, or anything else the resident can think of. A simple calendar can keep track of availability.
So many people are looking to save money, so why not put a big t.v. in the clubhouse and do movie night or karaoke night? The clubhouse isn't dead, it's just being ignored.
I think that people forget the clubhouse is there, and available for things like parties. If there is no grand plan for transforming the clubhouse, why not send out a reminder for events that can be scheduled there.
Examples: Mary Kay/Avon parties, birthdays, anniversaries, work-related meetings and conferences (if there's WiFi), community holiday parties, or anything else the resident can think of. A simple calendar can keep track of availability.
So many people are looking to save money, so why not put a big t.v. in the clubhouse and do movie night or karaoke night? The clubhouse isn't dead, it's just being ignored.
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