HIGH GEAR

APRIL MAY 1982

FUNDING

WOES PLAGUE GEAR

Public meeting May 2

what

is

Dimensions.

now At

New

a

to

rental figure of $3.00 per square foot ($150.00 per month)

including

the

utilities,

the

Foundation rebuild.

began

τό

In June, 1979, the GEAR Foundation the became second gay organization in the United States purchase a building that was to house an area wide community center. The move was a monumental one for both the Cleveland gay and lesbian communities as well for the Foundation itself. That was nearly two what's ago,

as

years

happened since then?

the rumors

that

Are the

is

in

community center

trouble true?

In order to get some sense of what the situation is now, one needs a brief review of some of the critical events the gay community.. Shortly after its creation, GEAR opened community center

a

in

office on Coventry Road in Cleveland

· Heights. The center. was run by both men and women. Most of the real services

centers

to

community, such

High

the

as

Gear continued

to operate out of

volunteers homes, but

a

center

functioning.

. was

Soon after opening the community center and all it contained were destroyed in the now famous Coventry Yard fire.

Το better serve serve the Cleveland

community, the board

of trustees sought a

new

downtown.

location After a

lengthy search, Jack Campbell and others offered 600 square feet of unused space on the first floor of

Professionals in the fields of social service, management, and finances were · sought out to help organize operations. Volunteers were required

to

now have training before working hotlines and discussion groups, and the board sought affiliation with with the for. Federation Community

Planning.

In less than six months the work had paid off so well that groups using the 20 foot by 30 foot space fighting for reservations. It.was clear that new larger space, was needed.

were

GEAR representatives contacted representatives of area

gay organizations to test the idea of a true community center useable by all, that would pool the resources of all. The idea was warmly received, and the search launched for 2,000 square feet of space.

GEAR soon discovered that the cheapest rental space to meet community needs was in excess of $550 per month. With that kind expense GEAR decided to invest in a center so as to keep gay money in the gay community.

of

to.

was

A building found on West 14th Street and the board proceeded negotiate settling on a $38,500 price. at 11%

The

finally

monthly

$600.00.

interest, with $7,000 down. mortgage Rental income from the second floor $570.00 per month.

Fall Rummage Sale helped raise $800.

the One year after initial purchase date the finance report showed the reality of the decision to own. The building had collected more in rental income than the Foundation had paid out in mortgage payments.

As the second year began problems with the building began to set in. First a water tank died; cost of replacement $200 with. free labor. Then a tenant suffered a mental problem resulting in nearly $200 damage to suite. fire escape began showing signs of age and needed repair; more money. A tenant suffering from alcoholism ruined bathroom in a second suite; a sewerage stack that had a nail dirven through it by the previous owner, finally ruptured and needed to be replaced; a motor in one of the heating units burned out. The result; the Foundation must get support from the gay community at

Then the rear

a

large and other gay organizations in the

•

•

city if it is to become the dream it was intended to

. become.

A major public meeting has been set for Sunday, May 2, 1982, at the Gay Community Center;

2641

West

14th

Street. The meeting

will begin with reception at

P..M

and meeting at 5 PM. Its purpose is to

present.

to f

community the

of the center and community and mean's

Suppo