Looking for recommendations to find a new home for our club...

Lesson one, get your own building so you don't get thrown out again. 

Do whatever fundraising events and opportunities to make rule #1 a priority.

In the meantime, if you have to rent again, consider a modular layout so breakdown and/ or loss of hard work and supplies loss are minimized.

Check with the City Parks Dept. in your town, or nearby towns. Our club is loosely affiliated with the local Parks Dept. and they provide a location where we have our monthly meetings. ( We have used the same facility for 34 years). We are a modular club, so have never asked about a site for a fulltime setup. Two other clubs I was involved with, had permenant layout locations, in their city's Parks Dept. facilities.

What about a mall. They probably have a few empty store places. The mall manager would probably welcome you with open arms.

Jim, Daniel,

Although a mall is good for a temporary location like over the holiday's but in the long run malls are closing at a fast rate and in 10 years according to the experts over 50% of malls will be closed. 

So I would look for something more permanent, like a church basement, or a local empty train station or building. 

Dave

The Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club, of which I have been a member for three years, faced a similar dilemma about 15 years ago. Because it was a long established club with a 200-plus membership base, the organization was able to buy a business condo unit to secure its future. Despite that, membership dues are only $55 annually.

See if you can find a Model Railroad mussuem for space. That is how the San Diego 3-Raiders got going into our success. 

Also the San Diego S Gaugers were kicked out like you guys did, they went to a mall and see if they can have available space

jim sutter posted:

What about a mall. They probably have a few empty store places. The mall manager would probably welcome you with open arms.

A club I used to belong to once held their meetings in a mall.  We didn't use a storefront, but one of their meeting rooms for our meetings.  Even though the mall was a virtual ghost town with about 20% occupancy, a new owner doubled the rent.

Needless to say, we sought other accommodations.

My point: A mall location is at the mercy of the owners or manager.  If someone wants the space you'll be out on your ear.

Rusty

The only way to control your own destiny is to own the building. Anything less is just a temporary solution.

Clubs of long tenure have been forced to move. The Denver O scale club had been in their location at Union Depot for about 75 years when they were blindsided by an eviction.

The Twin Cities Model Railroad Club spent 50 years at the St Paul depot before they got the axe, went homeless for a couple of years, then landed a mall space. They lasted 30 years there, before being priced out when the mall concept failed, and the building was converted to office space. The original layout from the depot was trashed, but the new layout was built with sectional benchwork, and the whole thing was moved to its new home in an office/warehouse building. They have a 10 year lease, but they're still paying rent.

Sometimes old buildings in less than perfect neighborhoods are just the ticket. That's where I'd start looking.

Good luck.

I concur that the only way to control your destiny is to buy a building or to buy land and build a building.  Several clubs have done this.

My club is in a city park in a city owned building.  We have a 20 year lease with just over 10 years left to run.  We try to ensure that we are on good terms with the city and the community.  

Good luck with your search.

A short time ago while visiting the Cherry Valley 0 scale Club at the Grace Episcopal Church in Merchantville NJ, I met the pastor.  Typical humble man of God, he was taking out the trash. Nice touch.  

According the what was said to me then, Episcopal Churches have an interest in being involved in the community and in more than one Episcopal church model RR  clubs have enjoyed a long tenure.   He said that some Episcopal churches have other activities for which they commit space to efforts which benefit the  community.  Very reasonable expense.  CV has been there since the early sixties I believe.

CV has the use of a basement about 34' X 70' which makes for a nice layout !    Their other basement has or had a nice area for the Boy Scouts, not sure if the scouts are still there.

CV hosts open house on several occasions through out the year in conjunction with church and community events.  John Dunn or  Chris Crane may jump in to share details. 

Do they have county or state fairgrounds in Canada?  Iowa state fairgrounds has a great layout, I don't know specific details but would imagine something good to look in to. 

Thanks to all for your answers and suggestions

I will certainly share the solution we found, once we find one !

For now, here is a video that one of our club member did last week to say "goodbye" to our current location.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vLENUcia8g

As you can see, the construction was ongoing, and a lot of material from our first move was still waiting to be reused.  That second move will be a challenge.

I would recommend building modules, using them for shows, displays etc while you look for your own building. Sooner or later all renters have to move-usually sooner.  Not easy but better in the long run.

JD_Reith posted:

Do they have county or state fairgrounds in Canada?  Iowa state fairgrounds has a great layout, I don't know specific details but would imagine something good to look in to. 

The fairgrounds in California have all been throwing out railroad clubs that have been tenants for 50 years or more. Real estate is getting more expensive and the new managers are only interested in money.

If you cannot afford your own building, which is the first choice for all the obvious reasons, a church basement is a reasonable choice as, given decreasing church attendance in the Western world and the aging population, churches need all the revenues they can find, even modest rents from model railroad clubs.  The only current permanent club layout in our city has been in a Unitarian church basement downtown for about 20 years or so.  Good luck with your quest.