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<td class="photocaption">This space available!</td>

<td class="photocaption">This space available!</td>

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The <a title="Internet Review Corporation at MyWikiBiz" href="http://www.mywikibiz.com/Directory:Internet_Review_Corporation" target="_blank">Internet Review Corporation</a> has discovered that the <strong>Wikimedia Foundation</strong> plans to <a title="WebCite record of LoopNet rental listing" href="http://www.webcitation.org/5jXSqfPxc" target="_blank">open up its office space</a> at 39 Stillman Street in San Francisco for sub-lease.

The [[Directory:Internet_Review_Corporation|Internet Review Corporation]] has discovered that the '''Wikimedia Foundation''' plans to [http://www.webcitation.org/5jXSqfPxc open up its office space] at 39 Stillman Street in San Francisco for sub-lease.

Our inside source at Grubb &amp; Ellis says they're asking $25 per square foot, for the 3,000-square-foot space.  (We presume that's an annual rate, which derives $6,250 per month.)

Our inside source at Grubb &amp; Ellis says they're asking $25 per square foot, for the 3,000-square-foot space.  (We presume that's an annual rate, which derives $6,250 per month.)

<strong>Why is this interesting?</strong>

==Why is this interesting?==

It seems a bit strange that as recently as January 2009, the Wikimedia Foundation was lamenting how they had <a title="WMF explains space needs" href="http://blog.wikimedia.org/2009/01/21/a-note-on-the-wikipedia-usability-initiative/" target="_blank">"outgrown" their current space</a>, and to solve that problem, they conducted a competitive search for some overflow office space that they could rent.  When the bids came in, the prices were all over the place, but they really thought the shiniest apple in the bushel was the offer from <strong>Wikia, Inc.</strong>, which is the for-profit enterprise co-founded by the founder of the Wikimedia Foundation. While Wikia didn't present the lowest rental price (indeed, it was above the average of all bids collected), Wikia was extended the exclusive opportunity to <a title="Erik Moeller explains the deal" href="http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2009-January/049354.html" target="_blank">lower their price</a> to closer to the average of the other bids.  Wikia complied, and that's how tax-advantaged money from the Ruth and Frank Stanton Fund ended up in the pocket of Jimmy Wales' privately-held company.  Some have called this a "wired deal".

It seems a bit strange that as recently as January 2009, the Wikimedia Foundation was lamenting how they had [http://blog.wikimedia.org/2009/01/21/a-note-on-the-wikipedia-usability-initiative/ "outgrown" their current space], and to solve that problem, they conducted a competitive search for some overflow office space that they could rent.  When the bids came in, the prices were all over the place, but they really thought the shiniest apple in the bushel was the offer from '''Wikia, Inc.''', which is the for-profit enterprise co-founded by the founder of the Wikimedia Foundation. While Wikia didn't present the lowest rental price (indeed, it was above the average of all bids collected), Wikia was extended the exclusive opportunity to [http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2009-January/049354.html lower their price] to closer to the average of the other bids.  Wikia complied, and that's how tax-advantaged money from the Ruth and Frank Stanton Fund ended up in the pocket of Jimmy Wales' privately-held company.  Some have called this a "wired deal".

And this <a title="Brian Mingus on conflict of interest" href="http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2009-January/049343.html" target="_blank">struck some people</a> (those with brains) as a conflict of interest.

And this [http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2009-January/049343.html struck some people] (those with brains) as a conflict of interest.

Now, only eight months later, are we to understand that instead of having "outgrown" its office space on Stillman Street, the WMF is swimming in surplus floor space, that they need to hire Grubb &amp; Ellis to sub-let it out to someone else?

Now, only eight months later, are we to understand that instead of having "outgrown" its office space on Stillman Street, the WMF is swimming in surplus floor space, that they need to hire Grubb &amp; Ellis to sub-let it out to someone else?

(<strong>Author's note</strong>: <em>The Wikimedia Foundation has clarified that they are not swimming in surplus floor space.  In fact, the entire staff plans to move soon to new space that reportedly offers more than three times the flooring of 39 Stillman Street's WMF-apportioned space.  The "sub-lease" plans are still in place, but the contract is for the entirety of the soon-to-be-former WMF footprint.  I also understand that the rented office space at Wikia, Inc. will be canceled and those code developers brought under the "home" roof of the Foundation.  Apologies for making the above suggestion; although, in my defense, my initial e-mail about this to my Internet Review Corporation brethren expressed my first hunch that all of WMF was moving.  I should have stuck with my initial gut instinct.</em>)

('''Author's note''': ''The Wikimedia Foundation has clarified that they are not swimming in surplus floor space.  In fact, the entire staff plans to move soon to new space that reportedly offers more than three times the flooring of 39 Stillman Street's WMF-apportioned space.  The "sub-lease" plans are still in place, but the contract is for the entirety of the soon-to-be-former WMF footprint.  I also understand that the rented office space at Wikia, Inc. will be canceled and those code developers brought under the "home" roof of the Foundation.  Apologies for making the above suggestion; although, in my defense, my initial e-mail about this to my Internet Review Corporation brethren expressed my first hunch that all of WMF was moving.  I should have stuck with my initial gut instinct.'')

Since we appear to have scooped this story, maybe the Internet Review Corporation should move its <em>Akahele</em> blog staff to San Francisco, so we can be closer to the action?  What do you all think?  Comments welcome below!

Since we appear to have scooped this story, maybe the Internet Review Corporation should move its ''Akahele'' blog staff to San Francisco, so we can be closer to the action?  What do you all think?  Comments welcome below!

==Comments==

==Comments==

8 Responses       to “        Wikimedia Foundation subletting space?       ”

===8 Responses to ''Wikimedia Foundation subletting space?''===

Comments RSS

Comments RSS

Emperor    

====Emperor====

Nice story.  Donations of time or money to Wikipedia are also donations to Wikia, a for-profit company.

Nice story.  Donations of time or money to Wikipedia are also donations to Wikia, a for-profit company.

Have you explained “nofollow” recently?

Have you explained “nofollow” recently?

Chuthya    

 

 

====Chuthya====

I think you have it backwards. If Wikia is subleasing the space, then money from the for-profit is going to the non-profit. Unless you’re claiming Wikia is getting some kind of sweetheart deal, or they’re getting the space rent free.

I think you have it backwards. If Wikia is subleasing the space, then money from the for-profit is going to the non-profit. Unless you’re claiming Wikia is getting some kind of sweetheart deal, or they’re getting the space rent free.

Cool Hand Luke    

 

 

====Cool Hand Luke====

No Chuthya, Wikimedia is currently leasing space from Wikia (paying rent to Wikia). When they initiated this arrangement, Wikimedia claimed that they were out of space. If they’re now trying to unload extra space, it would cast some doubt upon the prudence of the original lease.

No Chuthya, Wikimedia is currently leasing space from Wikia (paying rent to Wikia). When they initiated this arrangement, Wikimedia claimed that they were out of space. If they’re now trying to unload extra space, it would cast some doubt upon the prudence of the original lease.

Gregory Kohs    

 

 

====Gregory Kohs====

WMF Deputy Director Erik Moeller has weighed in on this, confirming my very initial thought when I saw the real estate ad — the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to up and move EVERYONE to a new, much larger space; and once evacuated, they wish to sublet the abandoned space to recuperate some of their investment into the original lease agreement.

WMF Deputy Director Erik Moeller has weighed in on this, confirming my very initial thought when I saw the real estate ad — the Wikimedia Foundation is seeking to up and move EVERYONE to a new, much larger space; and once evacuated, they wish to sublet the abandoned space to recuperate some of their investment into the original lease agreement.

So, while I got the story a bit wrong, it was still a nice scoop to be the first to find that the WMF is actually making good on their 2009-2010 plan to move off of Stillman Street.

So, while I got the story a bit wrong, it was still a nice scoop to be the first to find that the WMF is actually making good on their 2009-2010 plan to move off of Stillman Street.

John A    

====John A====

The story is mostly wrong, Greg. Learn from your jounralistic mistakes – don’t trivialize them.

The story is mostly wrong, Greg. Learn from your jounralistic mistakes – don’t trivialize them.

Gregory Kohs    

 

 

====Gregory Kohs====

Duly noted, John.  Good thing I’m not a journalist, eh?

Duly noted, John.  Good thing I’m not a journalist, eh?

Meanwhile, could someone give me an explanation why the WMF is seeking to sublet, rather than simply terminating their lease?

Meanwhile, could someone give me an explanation why the WMF is seeking to sublet, rather than simply terminating their lease?

Anthony DiPierro    

====Anthony DiPierro====

If they can’t sublet it, then the owner won’t be able to lease it out, and the damages for breaking the lease would be huge?

If they can’t sublet it, then the owner won’t be able to lease it out, and the damages for breaking the lease would be huge?

Nil Einne    

====Nil Einne====

Have to agree with Anthony DiPierro here. I’ve never owned a business (although I’ve discussed and offered some minor assistance to someone with properties before) only in my 20s after all. However I can guess what things may be like and would have expected anyone trying make such a big fuss about it to have some idea on how these sort of things work…

Have to agree with Anthony DiPierro here. I’ve never owned a business (although I’ve discussed and offered some minor assistance to someone with properties before) only in my 20s after all. However I can guess what things may be like and would have expected anyone trying make such a big fuss about it to have some idea on how these sort of things work…