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Hackert0wn
- showerst 14y agoCan someone who knows a bit more about this idea chime in on if it's really plausible? A multi-story building in NYC with an elevator for 1.5MM? Do they already own the land or something? It sounds like at least one of the partners already runs a hacker space so I assume they know what they're doing, but it sounds wildly implausible to me. The typos and errors on the page don't exactly inspire confidence either =P
- duiker101 14y agoYou missed the part where it would be made with containers. I assume they do not know what they are doing.
- Moto7451 14y agoContainers can make for some very cool architecture. http://weburbanist.com/2008/05/26/cargo-container-homes-and-offices/ http://weburbanist.com/2008/05/26/cargo-container-homes-and-... That said I agree that this looks like its a very idealistic project that lacks an actual plan besides "cool ideas + money = awesome."
- stephengillie 14y agoA connex (45' long container trailer) looks to cost around $1000-$3000 on eBay, and I think I've heard that's a typical price for one. I'd budget another $3000 to make it livable - installing drywall walls, electrical outlets, plumbing a toilet and mini-kitchenette, and a door and window. The biggest price will be land. Interestingly: http://containerhouse.info/how-to-buy-container-home/ http://containerhouse.info/how-to-buy-container-home/
- protomyth 14y agomore info from 2011: http://www.archdaily.com/160892/the-pros-and-cons-of-cargo-container-architecture/ http://www.archdaily.com/160892/the-pros-and-cons-of-cargo-c... I do think they would run into trouble with the local building codes and inspectors.
- mcormier 14y ago"Shipping container architecture gets a lot of encouraging coverage in the design world as a trendy green alternative to traditional building materials, and seems like a smart choice for people looking for eco-consciousness. However, there are a lot of downsides to building with cargo containers. For instance, the coatings used to make the containers durable for ocean transport also happen to contain a number of harmful chemicals, such as chromate, phosphorous, and lead-based paints. Moreover, wood floors that line the majority of shipping container buildings are infused with hazardous chemical pesticides like arsenic and chromium to keep pests away." YIKES!!
- psytek 14y agoThe container prep will be done offsite. This is a prefab project.
- psytek 14y agoOur plan is up to code, and of course we'll make sure that everything will pass inspection. Mayor Bloomberg is also pushing for green projects like this, so the wait time for a permit is much less.
- columbo 14y agoMetal walls also cause condensation. Here's a good reference: http://www.tincancabin.com/ http://www.tincancabin.com/ Building a 3 container cabin I believe wound up costing the guy $25,000 I've been thinking of making a tin-can-cabin, some sort of summer-vacation spot but I can't imagine trying to make a all-year-livable space in new york with containers. May as well buy an old building and pay to clean out all the asbestos.
- psytek 14y agoWe've added more concrete details to the plan. Thanks for the feedback.
- psytek 14y agohttp://www.platoon.org/ http://www.platoon.org/
- JBionics 14y agoFrom the site: "Our goal is to raise $5,000,000. Our modest crowdfunding goal to get us started is $1,500,000." $1.5MM hardly seems modest.
- evoxed 14y agoDepends where in New York City. Manhattan, no way. 1.5m would cover just the buying price of a single apartment in any new building. Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, SI– "maybe". As in, if they're both brilliant and well disciplined planners and happen to be lucky...
- psytek 14y agoShipping containers cost about $5k each new... The lot we're buying costs $950k - both well within our initial $1.5M budget.
- psytek 14y agoYes, check out http://www.platoon.org/ http://www.platoon.org/ We're buying the land. Copy has been updated.
- duiker101 14y agoFrom the video to me it looks more like "Hey wouldn't it be cool to get all the cool thing you could ever want in one place? Sure! Let's build it! But we need money! No worries let's just start one of those fundraising things where you say all the cool things could ever get in a video and people throw money to you! I'd say we need about 1.5m! Yhea! Let's do it!" then a reasoned thing as it should be...
- psytek 14y agoWhere there's a will there's a way! Ideas have to start somewhere. We're more than just an idea at this stage. We've got blueprints, contracts and a crowd-funding campaign going.
- travisp 14y agoThis seems overly ambitious. Is "FarmLand" really needed to create a viable "Hackert0wn"? Perhaps they should focus on doing one thing well first (such as an educational center or hackerspace) before adding in side projects that don't really enhance these other things. I can buy farm fresh food or join a CSA farm share in New York fairly easily -- I don't see the need to tie it into my workspace.
- stephengillie 14y agoYou're right, they could probably shave a lot off that $1.5M if they made partnerships with other businesses instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. They'd have fewer tasks to complete as well. What would be necessary for a good MVPt0wn?
- psytek 14y agoI'd say a good MVPt0wn would just be a hackerspace or a coworking space.
- psytek 14y agoeducational centers and hackerspaces have already been done. We want to make this into more than just a hackerspace. It will be a hacker theme park sort of. With everything you could imagine a hacker (not just the software types) would want.
- dfc 14y ago"hackertown is a an epicenter" If you can't be bothered to have someone proofread your first sentence there is no way I'm even thinking about giving you money.
- psytek 14y agoWe launched a bit early to get it up for Maker Faire. We've revised several times now. Thanks for pointing this out.
- killnine 14y agoAll other things aside, I'm amazed this will NOT be in the valley...
- twodayslate 14y ago$40/month for a membership will turn into $40/month for rent
- psytek 14y agoNot sure what you mean here. The rent for a private studio is $500/m and for the retail store is $1000/m We're buying the lot so we'll only have to pay property tax.
- twodayslate 14y ago$40/month for membership and the video made it seem like those little bed pods were included. Sounds like home to me
- driverdan 14y agoThis is extremely misleading, perhaps one of the most misleading crowdfunding projects I've seen. They almost always use present tense which makes it seem like everything already exists. From the campaign: "Located in New York City, Hackert0wn is an epicenter for innovation and education to advance green technology and sustainability." NO IT'S NOT! It's an idea in 4 peoples' minds. It doesn't exist so you can't make claims about it like this. Almost all of the photos they show are of related tech and have no bearing on this project. Do they actually have permission to use those photos? Some look like they're taken directly from product manufacturers and other copyright protected sources. No wonder they're using indiegogo instead of Kickstarter. Kickstart would never let them get away with this.
- psytek 14y agoWe've open sourced the 3d Maya file that we've been working on the past few months. We'd love to hear your feedback! http://www.indiegogo.com/hackert0wn?c=activity&a=1498290 http://www.indiegogo.com/hackert0wn?c=activity&a=1498290 Thanks, psytek P.S. We've also split the project into phases as per the suggestions and added much more concrete details. Keep the feedback coming!
- gubatron 14y agoWhere in Brooklyn do they want to do this? North Greenpoint?
- psytek 14y agoWilliamsburg, a block away from the Graham Ave L train.
- moocow01 14y agoThe fact that they are reading off of cue cards about their own project isnt exactly encouraging. Why do we need spaces specifically marketed to "hacking"? Hacking requires a computer, a table, a chair and electricity - just about any real estate fits those parameters. On top of it 1.5 million through crowdsourcing for this sort of thing I have to doubt would come even close to cutting it for getting things off the ground. Syndication through real estate investors would probably give you a much better shot.
- psytek 14y agoWell the point is clearly made in the video... I think you're thinking of co-working space. A hackerspace is quite different http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspace We do have the option of going with a real estate investor, however we think it will be more fun to get the community involved from an early stage and do a crowd funding campaign!
- bkanber 14y agoWhile I like the idea, I think it's overly ambitious, a bit misleading, and I don't think these are the people to pull this off. If you read their bios, it's clear that they have no history of repeated success, or the appropriate backgrounds to really execute on a project like this. I would not entrust them with $1.5M.
- psytek 14y agoCheck out http://ecobrooklyn.com/ http://ecobrooklyn.com/ he's our architect, he's been doing this successfully for years.
- psytek 14y agoThank you for the valuable feedback. We're updating the campaign now. In the meantime, check out this awesome 40 container complex built in Korea and Berlin - http://www.platoon.org/ http://www.platoon.org/