> A traditional turn of phrase used by property experts is that the three most important factors in determining the desirability of a property are "location, location, location".
Aside from Matt's concerns (+1), I'm really worried about the site's location. Please correct me if I'm incorrect but:
- There is no foot traffic. Sudo Room now benefits from our being near an active thoroughfare, drawing visitors and prospective members from passers by. Not at 4799.
- Omni's neighbors are residential, so we'll have to moderate our activities to minimize adverse impact on them. This likely will include severely limiting attendance at events, measuring and capping noise/music, limiting active hours, and restricting activities that produce noxious or toxic emissions. These are common limits placed on churches and other organizations operating among family homes.
- Freeway pros and cons. Right around the corner from a freeway exit (good). Half-block from the 24 Freeway (noise, smog).
- There is no parking, naturally limiting participation and attendance. We have an abundance of off-street parking now.
- Transit options are a fraction of what serve us now. We're two short blocks from BART, bringing people from Berkeley, San Francisco, points East and South, not to mention other parts of Oakland. Nearly two-dozen bus lines stop within one or two blocks now. The Temescal location is 0.6 miles from MacArthur BART; I'm not inclined to spend that much time on foot on that footpath in the evening. Bus lines are limited (three on Telegraph?).
- The neighborhood association and Oakland seem to have strong limits on external signage and building modifications for that area. True?
- An article described 4799 as an "historical building". At risk of landmark status? That would limit modifications we can do and slow renovations.
I'd love to know where my understanding isn't factual. Where it is, how does Omni Oakland plan to overcome or compensate for these limits? Can SR prosper with the changes? Are altenative sites, like the Alice one, better or worse locations on these dimensions?
Love, Phil
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