Omni History - Revision history

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2015-12-14T16:56:42Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:56, 14 December 2015
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	In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David Keenan was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)		In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David Keenan was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)

	For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David K. in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David K. back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David K., Jesse~~, and owner~~; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked ~~extremely hard~~ on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.		For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David K. in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David K. back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general a profoundly intensive period of work for David K. and Jesse; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked doggedly on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.

	By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.		By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2015-12-14T16:54:32Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 14 December 2015
Line 27:		Line 27:
	Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.		Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.

	David K. began to bottomline weekly Omni planning meetings, as well as bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building, in which members of interested collectives could tour the property. These trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.		David Keenan began to bottomline weekly Omni planning meetings, as well as bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building, in which members of interested collectives could tour the property. These trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.

	During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, David Keenan, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)		During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, David Keenan, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)
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	From this point, we moved quickly to consolidate our financial commitments and refine our proposal for the building for the owner's review. This included complete business plans and thorough financials for eight community groups and constituted essentially a communal push for a 3-day all-nighter amongst all the organizers to complete and polish.		From this point, we moved quickly to consolidate our financial commitments and refine our proposal for the building for the owner's review. This included complete business plans and thorough financials for eight community groups and constituted essentially a communal push for a 3-day all-nighter amongst all the organizers to complete and polish.

	In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David K. was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)		In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David Keenan was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)

	For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David K. in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David K. back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David K., Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.		For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David K. in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David K. back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David K., Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2015-12-14T16:53:36Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 14 December 2015
Line 27:		Line 27:
	Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.		Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.

	Bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building ~~began~~ in which members of ~~participating collective groups and anyone attending Omni organizing meetings generally~~ could ~~view~~ the property. ~~Typically organized and arranged with the owner by David K., these~~ trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.		David K. began to bottomline weekly Omni planning meetings, as well as bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building, in which members of interested collectives could tour the property. These trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.

	During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, David Keenan, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)		During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, David Keenan, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2015-12-14T16:49:55Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:49, 14 December 2015
Line 23:		Line 23:
	(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)		(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)

	In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made with the building owner to ~~view~~ the ~~building~~, and David K. ~~entreatied~~ Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.		In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made with the building owner to tour the property, and David K. entreated Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.

	Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.		Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2015-12-14T16:48:54Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 14 December 2015
Line 23:		Line 23:
	(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)		(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)

	In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made, and David K. entreatied Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.		In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made with the building owner to view the building, and David K. entreatied Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.

	Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.		Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.

Dkeenan at 16:16, 14 December 2015

2015-12-14T16:16:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 14 December 2015
Line 23:		Line 23:
	(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)		(work in progress; please forgive any outstanding omissions)

	In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made, and David entreatied Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.		In late October 2013, local Temescal poet and artist Zach Houston, who had known the present owners for many years, met with David Keenan of the Bay Area Public School (BAPS) regarding the building as potential new location for BAPS and Sudo Room. An appointment was made, and David K. entreatied Jenny Ryan and Marc Juul of Sudo Room to join, which they did. Zach had also contacted Emji Spero of Timeless Infinite Light (TIL) as another potential partner in the project, and these representatives from the three groups - Bay Area Public School, Sudo, and TIL - visited the building with Zach in late October.

	Impressed by the building, later the same day David, Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.		Impressed by the building, later the same day David K., Jenny and Zach returned to Bay Area Public School & Sudo's then-current space and proceeded to write up copy for a brief one-sheet proposal and create the first infrastructure for the group, working deep into the night. The proposal was then worked over into something properly presentable by Otis Pig of TIL, and from that point on regular organizing meetings and nearly-weekly visits to the property began. During this initial period, the bulk of organizing for the effort was done by Bay Area Public School and Sudo Room.

	Bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building began in which members of participating collective groups and anyone attending Omni organizing meetings generally could view the property. Typically organized and arranged with the owner by David K., these trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.		Bi-weekly (on average) field trips to the building began in which members of participating collective groups and anyone attending Omni organizing meetings generally could view the property. Typically organized and arranged with the owner by David K., these trips to the building continued unabated for approximately 6 months.

	During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)		During the time we held organizing meetings, hackathons, pulled all-niters, and generally built support for this effort, several groups expressed interest in participating in our vision for a Commons - many stayed in it for the long haul; for others, their interest and energy could not be sustained through the intense 7 month process during which we worked to concretely define our shared values, our internal processes, and above all ourselves as a cohesive new entity, in order to turn our vision into reality. Other groups who subsequently joined during this period, and stayed on until moving in were: OMNIdance, Counter-Culture Labs, Backspace, Food Not Bombs, Black Hole Collective Labs, Oakland Nights Live, and Peak Agency. A large number of people across all member collectives worked incredibly hard during this period. In an effort to recognize and de-invisibilize the labor of those who put in truly insane hours during this particular period, the following organizers deserve a round of applause: Yardena Cohen, Niki Shelley, David Keenan, Otis Pig, Jenny Ryan, Matt Senate, Margit Galanter, Ahnon Milham, David Brazil (note: Organizers - please add to this list as you see fit :)

	In late March 2014, the Bay Area Public School hosted, at the Omni, a one-night speaking event featuring PM Press authors, which primarily focused on the social need for a Commons, featuring writers Silvia Federici, Peter Linebaugh, and George Caffentzis. Although technically hosted by BAPS, all groups organizing with Omni Collective effort worked substantially to put on this event and make it a success.		In late March 2014, the Bay Area Public School hosted, at the Omni, a one-night speaking event featuring PM Press authors, which primarily focused on the social need for a Commons, featuring writers Silvia Federici, Peter Linebaugh, and George Caffentzis. Although technically hosted by BAPS, all groups organizing with Omni Collective effort worked substantially to put on this event and make it a success.
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	In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David K. was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)		In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David K. was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)

	For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David, Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.		For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David K. in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David K. back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David K., Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.

	By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.		By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.

Dkeenan: Dkeenan moved page History to Omni History: linking issues (history shortcircuits to page history)

2015-12-14T16:13:49Z

Dkeenan moved page History to Omni History: linking issues (history shortcircuits to page history)

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:13, 14 December 2015
(No difference)

Dkeenan: /* Others' efforts to acquire the building */

2014-12-27T21:04:06Z

Others' efforts to acquire the building

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 27 December 2014
Line 56:		Line 56:
	Such information is germane mostly in light of recently-rumored counternarratives in which Omni Commons' success in moving to this particular building, somehow cynically 'blocked', 'outbid', or otherwise directly prevented, through some imputed sneakiness, underhandedness or imagined collusion, the success of anyone else's competing efforts to acquire the same building (and correspondingly that Omni Commons is therefore, in whole or part, somehow morally culpable.) We feel for all who had dreams of using the building towards a myriad of ends during the multi-year period it was available for sale or lease, but from the perspective of Omni Commons, there was simply never any direct relation or knowledge whatsoever between our efforts to secure the property, and that of any other specific, actively competing effort (about which we knew nada). As we have said, so far as we knew, any knowledge of competing offers resided exclusively in the mind of the owner, who kept all such information entirely confidential from us, including the nature of any competing offers or negotiations. The responsibility for the owner's decision to rent or sell and to whom, when, and why, lies with owner alone - and therefore we urge all with lingering questions or doubts about why exactly their own proposals or negotiations did not work out, to simply contact the owner directly for these answers, as the owner is truly the one and only person who can answer such queries -- Omni Commons cannot speak for the owner, and in any case simply lacks any knowledge of such affairs.		Such information is germane mostly in light of recently-rumored counternarratives in which Omni Commons' success in moving to this particular building, somehow cynically 'blocked', 'outbid', or otherwise directly prevented, through some imputed sneakiness, underhandedness or imagined collusion, the success of anyone else's competing efforts to acquire the same building (and correspondingly that Omni Commons is therefore, in whole or part, somehow morally culpable.) We feel for all who had dreams of using the building towards a myriad of ends during the multi-year period it was available for sale or lease, but from the perspective of Omni Commons, there was simply never any direct relation or knowledge whatsoever between our efforts to secure the property, and that of any other specific, actively competing effort (about which we knew nada). As we have said, so far as we knew, any knowledge of competing offers resided exclusively in the mind of the owner, who kept all such information entirely confidential from us, including the nature of any competing offers or negotiations. The responsibility for the owner's decision to rent or sell and to whom, when, and why, lies with owner alone - and therefore we urge all with lingering questions or doubts about why exactly their own proposals or negotiations did not work out, to simply contact the owner directly for these answers, as the owner is truly the one and only person who can answer such queries -- Omni Commons cannot speak for the owner, and in any case simply lacks any knowledge of such affairs.

	For what it's worth, to the extent that lease and purchase terms were negotiable, its important to note we negotiated generally down in price/terms with the owner, not up, so its not at all likely that our success could be thought of as 'outbidding' any other party in the sense of throwing down more money than what one might have considered the owner's long-held 'asking price' with respect to terms in any conventionally-understood way. And in terms of any imagined monetary advantage on the part of Omni Commons generally: Any competing party in the economic position to actually meet the owner's purchase price (or seller-financed loan terms), as we have heard was apparently the case, had to have at least 15x times as much cash immediately to hand to buy, as we had scrimped together in order to lease. Our deposit, at that, was comprised entirely of small donations and personally-financed interest-free microloans with no 'investors' or big capital...Given this its hard to imagine what purely financial advantage we may have possibly wielded over any other competing parties looking to buy. And for anyone who suspected we swooped in at the last minute somehow: the property was available for years, and, we worked on our proposal 9 months. So, there was both plenty of time for other offers to work out in advance of ours, and, we worked diligently, collectively, and openly for quite a long time on our own proposal, in regular conversation with the owner long before signing any agreement. So to our mind our process towards letting the property can hardly be thought of as last-minute, secretive, pre-emptive, or otherwise unfair to any other competing party ~~in any way~~.		For what it's worth, to the extent that lease and purchase terms were negotiable, its important to note we negotiated generally down in price/terms with the owner, not up, so its not at all likely that our success could be thought of as 'outbidding' any other party in the sense of throwing down more money than what one might have considered the owner's long-held 'asking price' with respect to terms in any conventionally-understood way. And in terms of any imagined monetary advantage on the part of Omni Commons generally: Any competing party in the economic position to actually meet the owner's purchase price (or seller-financed loan terms), as we have heard was apparently the case, had to have at least 15x times as much cash immediately to hand to buy, as we had scrimped together in order to lease. Our deposit, at that, was comprised entirely of small donations and personally-financed interest-free microloans with no 'investors' or big capital...Given this its hard to imagine what purely financial advantage we may have possibly wielded over any other competing parties looking to buy. And for anyone who suspected we swooped in at the last minute somehow: the property was available for years, and, we worked on our proposal 9 months. So, there was both plenty of time for other offers to work out in advance of ours, and, we worked diligently, collectively, and openly for quite a long time on our own proposal, in regular conversation with the owner long before signing any agreement. So to our mind our process towards letting the property can hardly be thought of as last-minute, secretive, pre-emptive, or otherwise unfair to any other competing party.

	Finally, again, there was no conventional 'bidding process' - there was only a series of long and difficult negotiations that had to be followed through with the owner to the very end, with no definitive deadline or timeline per se. We expect (though we do not know) that every suitor for the property faced these same challenges, and having lived through it - just barely - we are exceedingly sympathetic to all those whose own negotiations and hard work to secure the building did not in the end pan out. The number of stories we have heard of previous deals to rent or purchase the building all falling apart 'at the last minute' is relatively large, spanning several years' worth of suitors, so it appears most faced much the same challenges as we did in negotiations - as our own negotiations were, as we said (and as was widely known within our community at the time), extremely difficult to consummate.		Finally, again, there was no conventional 'bidding process' - there was only a series of long and difficult negotiations that had to be followed through with the owner to the very end, with no definitive deadline or timeline per se. We expect (though we do not know) that every suitor for the property faced these same challenges, and having lived through it - just barely - we are exceedingly sympathetic to all those whose own negotiations and hard work to secure the building did not in the end pan out. The number of stories we have heard of previous deals to rent or purchase the building all falling apart 'at the last minute' is relatively large, spanning several years' worth of suitors, so it appears most faced much the same challenges as we did in negotiations - as our own negotiations were, as we said (and as was widely known within our community at the time), extremely difficult to consummate.

	With all this in mind, we hope the community can recognize that the ~~failure~~ of any other party to consummate a deal on the same property lay squarely between the owner and that party, and really not with Omni Commons - as we just did not interfere in anyone else's business~~, in any way, shape or form~~.		With all this in mind, we hope the community can recognize that the difficulties of any other party to consummate a deal on the same property lay squarely between the owner and that other party, and really not with Omni Commons, as we just did not interfere in anyone else's business.

	= Help write a new chapter of our history! =		= Help write a new chapter of our history! =
	We hope this page clarifies the history of how we came to be as a group, and also how we came to the building. We encourage anyone, including the many, many other parties we are gradually learning about that had previous designs on acquiring the building over the years, to come on over and co-create with us the Commons that you would like to see!		We hope this page clarifies the history of how we came to be as a group, and also how we came to the building. We encourage anyone, including the many, many other parties we are gradually learning about that had previous designs on acquiring the building over the years, to come on over and co-create with us the Commons that you would like to see!

Dkeenan: /* Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history) */

2014-12-27T20:55:27Z

Beginnings of the Omni Commons, née Omni Collective (a more detailed history)

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:55, 27 December 2014
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	From this point, we moved quickly to consolidate our financial commitments and refine our proposal for the building for the owner's review. This included complete business plans and thorough financials for eight community groups and constituted essentially a communal push for a 3-day all-nighter amongst all the organizers to complete and polish.		From this point, we moved quickly to consolidate our financial commitments and refine our proposal for the building for the owner's review. This included complete business plans and thorough financials for eight community groups and constituted essentially a communal push for a 3-day all-nighter amongst all the organizers to complete and polish.

	In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require ~~extensive~~ one-on-one negotiations, David K. was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.		In early May 2014, we signed our first formal agreement with the owner of the building. As it became apparent that finalizing the deal would essentially require one-on-one negotiations, David K. was consensed on to be the Omni Collective's representative in these dealings, with the assistance of Omni Collective's main lawyer, Jesse Palmer. (We did not realize at the time just how extensive and intensive these negotiations would prove to be.)

	For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork ~~typically~~ stretched ~~far~~ into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David, Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.		For the next six weeks, the depths of our financials, business projections and organizational vision was checked and exposited upon at the same time that the terms of the lease and our option to purchase were painstakingly negotiated, on a near-daily basis, with the owner (lease revisions and associated paperwork often stretched into the hundreds per week). In addition to negotiating terms directly with the owner, aggregated lease/option revisions emerging out of one-on-one negotiations were presented back by David in batches (or otherwise summarized) regularly (usually weekly) for the group's collective amendment, approval, or denial. Any additional changes demanded by the collective in response, were in turn brought by David back to the negotiating table to the owner, and so on. Lease/option revisions were also floated by Jesse near-daily, who tirelessly converted much of the daily negotiation outcomes into (and out of) legalese. It was in general an intensive period of work for David, Jesse, and owner; and also for the collective as a whole - all of whom, during the negotiations period, worked extremely hard on the myriad logistical issues and tasks needed to move on the property and make the effort practically and financially sound and successful.

	By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.		By late June, the lease and option to purchase had been finalized and signed, and the Omni Commons assumed possession of the property on July 1 2014.

Dkeenan: /* Others' efforts to acquire the building */

2014-12-27T20:52:13Z

Others' efforts to acquire the building

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:52, 27 December 2014
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	Such information is germane mostly in light of recently-rumored counternarratives in which Omni Commons' success in moving to this particular building, somehow cynically 'blocked', 'outbid', or otherwise directly prevented, through some imputed sneakiness, underhandedness or imagined collusion, the success of anyone else's competing efforts to acquire the same building (and correspondingly that Omni Commons is therefore, in whole or part, somehow morally culpable.) We feel for all who had dreams of using the building towards a myriad of ends during the multi-year period it was available for sale or lease, but from the perspective of Omni Commons, there was simply never any direct relation or knowledge whatsoever between our efforts to secure the property, and that of any other specific, actively competing effort (about which we knew nada). As we have said, so far as we knew, any knowledge of competing offers resided exclusively in the mind of the owner, who kept all such information entirely confidential from us, including the nature of any competing offers or negotiations. The responsibility for the owner's decision to rent or sell and to whom, when, and why, lies with owner alone - and therefore we urge all with lingering questions or doubts about why exactly their own proposals or negotiations did not work out, to simply contact the owner directly for these answers, as the owner is truly the one and only person who can answer such queries -- Omni Commons cannot speak for the owner, and in any case simply lacks any knowledge of such affairs.		Such information is germane mostly in light of recently-rumored counternarratives in which Omni Commons' success in moving to this particular building, somehow cynically 'blocked', 'outbid', or otherwise directly prevented, through some imputed sneakiness, underhandedness or imagined collusion, the success of anyone else's competing efforts to acquire the same building (and correspondingly that Omni Commons is therefore, in whole or part, somehow morally culpable.) We feel for all who had dreams of using the building towards a myriad of ends during the multi-year period it was available for sale or lease, but from the perspective of Omni Commons, there was simply never any direct relation or knowledge whatsoever between our efforts to secure the property, and that of any other specific, actively competing effort (about which we knew nada). As we have said, so far as we knew, any knowledge of competing offers resided exclusively in the mind of the owner, who kept all such information entirely confidential from us, including the nature of any competing offers or negotiations. The responsibility for the owner's decision to rent or sell and to whom, when, and why, lies with owner alone - and therefore we urge all with lingering questions or doubts about why exactly their own proposals or negotiations did not work out, to simply contact the owner directly for these answers, as the owner is truly the one and only person who can answer such queries -- Omni Commons cannot speak for the owner, and in any case simply lacks any knowledge of such affairs.

	For what it's worth, to the extent that lease and purchase terms were negotiable, its important to note we negotiated generally down in price/terms with the owner, not up, so its not at all likely that our success could be thought of as 'outbidding' any other party in the sense of throwing down more money than what one might have considered the owner's long-held 'asking price' with respect to terms in any conventionally-understood way. And in terms of any imagined monetary advantage on the part of Omni Commons generally: Any competing party in the economic position to actually meet the owner's purchase price (or seller-financed loan terms), as we have heard was apparently the case, had to have at least 15x times as much cash immediately to hand to buy, as we had scrimped together in order to lease. Our deposit, at that, was comprised entirely of small donations and personally-financed interest-free microloans with no 'investors' or big capital...Given this its hard to imagine what purely financial advantage we may have possibly wielded over any other competing parties looking to buy. And for anyone who suspected we swooped in at the last minute somehow - the property was available for years, and, we worked on our proposal ~~for~~ 9 months ~~straight:~~ So there was both plenty of time for other offers to work out in advance of ours, ~~while~~ we worked diligently, collectively, and openly for quite a long time on our own proposal in regular conversation with the owner long before signing any agreement~~, so~~ to our mind our ~~agreement to let~~ the property, can hardly be thought of as last-minute, secretive, ~~etc~~.		For what it's worth, to the extent that lease and purchase terms were negotiable, its important to note we negotiated generally down in price/terms with the owner, not up, so its not at all likely that our success could be thought of as 'outbidding' any other party in the sense of throwing down more money than what one might have considered the owner's long-held 'asking price' with respect to terms in any conventionally-understood way. And in terms of any imagined monetary advantage on the part of Omni Commons generally: Any competing party in the economic position to actually meet the owner's purchase price (or seller-financed loan terms), as we have heard was apparently the case, had to have at least 15x times as much cash immediately to hand to buy, as we had scrimped together in order to lease. Our deposit, at that, was comprised entirely of small donations and personally-financed interest-free microloans with no 'investors' or big capital...Given this its hard to imagine what purely financial advantage we may have possibly wielded over any other competing parties looking to buy. And for anyone who suspected we swooped in at the last minute somehow: the property was available for years, and, we worked on our proposal 9 months. So, there was both plenty of time for other offers to work out in advance of ours, and, we worked diligently, collectively, and openly for quite a long time on our own proposal, in regular conversation with the owner long before signing any agreement. So to our mind our process towards letting the property can hardly be thought of as last-minute, secretive, pre-emptive, or otherwise unfair to any other competing party in any way.

	Finally, again, there was no conventional 'bidding process' - there was only a series of long and difficult negotiations that had to be followed through with the owner to the ~~bitter~~ end, with no definitive deadline or timeline per se. We expect (though we do not know) that every suitor for the property faced these same challenges, and having lived through it - just barely - we are exceedingly sympathetic to all those whose own negotiations and hard work to secure the building did not in the end pan out. The number of stories we have heard of previous deals to rent or purchase the building all falling apart 'at the last minute' is relatively large, spanning several years' worth of suitors, so it appears most faced much the same challenges as we did in negotiations - as our own negotiations were, as we said (and as was widely known within our community at the time), extremely difficult to consummate.		Finally, again, there was no conventional 'bidding process' - there was only a series of long and difficult negotiations that had to be followed through with the owner to the very end, with no definitive deadline or timeline per se. We expect (though we do not know) that every suitor for the property faced these same challenges, and having lived through it - just barely - we are exceedingly sympathetic to all those whose own negotiations and hard work to secure the building did not in the end pan out. The number of stories we have heard of previous deals to rent or purchase the building all falling apart 'at the last minute' is relatively large, spanning several years' worth of suitors, so it appears most faced much the same challenges as we did in negotiations - as our own negotiations were, as we said (and as was widely known within our community at the time), extremely difficult to consummate.

	With all this in mind, we hope the community can recognize that the failure of any other party to consummate a deal on the same property lay squarely between the owner and that party, and really not with Omni Commons - as we just did not interfere in anyone else's business, in any way, shape or form.		With all this in mind, we hope the community can recognize that the failure of any other party to consummate a deal on the same property lay squarely between the owner and that party, and really not with Omni Commons - as we just did not interfere in anyone else's business, in any way, shape or form.