Model Railroading > Question about clubs in government owned buildings

After our club lost it's longtime home, we were fortunate enough to be asked to
work with a town to build a replica of the old depot that was torn down years ago
and have a large room for our model railroad in the back.  This will be in a town park.
We have raised a good part of the money and have pledges and more people
interested when thay see construction starting. 
Things are moving along and we want to know about other clubs with similar situations
and their relationships with government landlords.  
What things should we have in our agreement?  Any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks
Steve Hollingsworth  
  

Unconditional 99 year free use lease.

holiwood Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After our club lost it's longtime home, we were
> fortunate enough to be asked to
> work with a town to build a replica of the old
> depot that was torn down years ago
> and have a large room for our model railroad in
> the back.  This will be in a town park.
> We have raised a good part of the money and have
> pledges and more people
> interested when thay see construction starting. 
> Things are moving along and we want to know about
> other clubs with similar situations
> and their relationships with government
> landlords.  
> What things should we have in our agreement?  Any
> suggestions would be appreciated
>
> Thanks
> Steve Hollingsworth  
>   

Go for 199 year unconditional lease, Britain lost Hong Kong, Time flies!
Ed

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society in Walnut Creek, CA would be a useful example, I'd reach out to them to see if they have any pointers for you.  From what I remember, they built the building in a local park, then donated it to the city.  The city leases it back to the club for $1/year or something like that.  Have forgotten how long the lease is, but would assume it has a base period and a number of renewal options.  Again, I'd talk to them directly to get the full details, it's worked out well for them.

Nathan

I would agrtee with the 99-year lease suggestion for your situation.  But, if you are going to build it, why not buy a lot and build it without government involvement?  Local governments are always subject to current politics, future unexpected decisions, etc.  Our club walked out on our previous leased building.  The landlord was doubling our rent when the lease ran out so we tore the layaout down, stored it, and arranged to buy the building next door.  We got lucky when the seller was willing to carry the 15-year mortgage.  Now we have the mortgage down where we are considering paying it off in the next year.  We have been a 501(3)(c) with the IRS for 15 years so donations are tax-deductible and we pay no property tax.  We have 40 members paying $35 a month dues and our fundraising and donations are about half of our income.  It pays to make the layout easy to view by the public.  We bring in an average of about 200 visitors at our monthly open houses from Sept. thru April.  We also got some healthy donations from members to help make a big down payment.

atsf121 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society in Walnut
> Creek, CA would be a useful example, I'd reach out
> to them to see if they have any pointers for you.
>  From what I remember, they built the building in
> a local park, then donated it to the city.  The
> city leases it back to the club for $1/year or
> something like that.  Have forgotten how long the
> lease is, but would assume it has a base period
> and a number of renewal options.  Again, I'd talk
> to them directly to get the full details, it's
> worked out well for them.
>
> Nathan
Yes thats quite the layout to visit have several friends who were involved with the whole thing building it along with the layout. Some have passed in the last few years and there is quite a story beind it.  The tour I recieved was bottom to top every room included in it one of the memebers helped on the iron work as that was his trade. Hope my statement here doesnt anger anyone in posting it. Boyd in Chiloquin OR 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/24 08:12 by BAB.

Los Altos History Museum's main building and storage barn were built with privately-donated funds on city-owned property. Their agreement with the City of Los Altos has the city responsible for building maintenance (roof, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.). This saves the museum a lot of $$ headaches. 
(Info source: My wife was the executive director there for 12 years.)

Website: Los Altos History Museum | Los Altos, California

- Doug Debs

 

Being in a government owned building is the same as any other building that you don't own. You can be evicted at any time.

PHall Wrote:
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> Being in a government owned building is the same
> as any other building that you don't own. You can
> be evicted at any time.

You can negotiate the amount of notice you get, which could be important.

ChrisCampi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Being in a government owned building is the
> same
> > as any other building that you don't own. You
> can
> > be evicted at any time.
>
> You can negotiate the amount of notice you get,
> which could be important.

The magic phrase "needs of the government" voids all written agreements on Federal property.

Thanks for all the good information

BAB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> atsf121 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society in
> Walnut
> > Creek, CA would be a useful example, I'd reach
> out
> > to them to see if they have any pointers for
> you.
> >  From what I remember, they built the building
> in
> > a local park, then donated it to the city.
>  The
> > city leases it back to the club for $1/year or
> > something like that.  Have forgotten how long
> the
> > lease is, but would assume it has a base period
> > and a number of renewal options.  Again, I'd
> talk
> > to them directly to get the full details, it's
> > worked out well for them.
> >
> > Nathan
> Yes thats quite the layout to visit have several
> friends who were involved with the whole thing
> building it along with the layout. Some have
> passed in the last few years and there is quite a
> story beind it.  The tour I recieved was bottom
> to top every room included in it one of the
> memebers helped on the iron work as that was his
> trade. Hope my statement here doesnt anger anyone
> in posting it. Boyd in Chiloquin OR 

I enjoyed visiting it once as a teenager, so when I was looking for a place to live after college, I was debating between Richmond (Golden State Model Railroad Museum) and Walnut Creek so I could join a club.  Both had BART connections so I could get to work in San Francisco, but the model trains were the priority!  Walnut Creek won out in the end, which was a good thing, as that's where I met my wife.  I only participated with the club for about 8/9 months, and sure learned a ton about the place as I got to go crawling around under the layout to fix things.

Nathan