816 Bicycle Collective to Reveal Plans for Building at Benefit Show.
Benefit Party Brings Together Designers, Engineers, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advocates and Social Justice Entrepreneurs to give Underserved Residents Transportation Choice.
Kansas City, Mo – October 2, 2011. The 816 Bicycle Collective will reveal the plans for their community bike shop building at the Benefit Show Sunday Oct. 2, 2011. This benefit show hosted by Californos, will reveal the results of a design charrette in partnership with local organizations and businesses.
The new designs are for the building located at 31st and Cherry in the Longfellow neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. The building is currently uninhabitable. The 816 Bicycle Collective has purchased the building, and is raising funds to bring these designs to fruition, and build their community bicycle shop.
The 816 Bike Collective helped these kids build their bikes.
Just this year, the 816 Bicycle Collective has rebuilt over 50 bikes to members of the community through their “LIST” program. The LIST program is designed for community members without any financial resources. Once a recipient is enrolled within the LIST program, a member of the Collective assesses their needs, and then the Collective builds an ideal bike that is safe and reliable. The 816 Bicycle Collective currently operates out of a space located near 31st and Troost, however it is insufficient to support the volume of operations.
Suzanne Hogan, one of the founding members of the Collective states, “The building we have can’t serve the needs of the population – this new building will not only serve more people but will be home to many bicycle and pedestrian groups. We will create a bicycle and pedestrian haven, a transportation incubator, where we can give bikes to the underserved in the area and also advocate for the underserved as well.” She adds, “For some, transportation choices are limited. We want bicycling to be an option.”
The event will not only reveal the designs for the new building, but also have a silent auction, cash bar and light refreshments. The event will have live music from Mary Fortune, The Conquerors and DJ Madeline. Californos, located at in Westport, will host the event.
The 816 Bike Collective is a project of the Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation
All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to the 816 Building Fund. The 816 Bike Collective is run entirely by volunteers, and 100% of its proceeds go to help give residents a transportation alternative.
Suzanne Hogan adds, “This is a chance for supporters to get in on the preverbal ground floor and help us rehabilitate this building from its present condition. We are looking for cash donations, but also in-kind sponsorship from members of the community.”
Helix Architects, Treanor Architecture and Krudwig & Associates, Inc. started work on the building plans in July. The plans are the result of a design charrette hosted by Eco Abet, a Kansas City-based non-profit Architecture and design organization that brings the design community together with local non-profits that address the needs of local underserved groups.
816 Benefit Party Details:
• Where: Californos, 4124 Pennsylvania Kansas City, MO
• When: 7:00PM until 12:00 AM
• Why: building plan reveal and benefit party
• Evening events include: silent auction, musical entrainment,
design reveal and more
About the 816 Collective – The 816 Bike Collective is a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds working on a volunteer basis to rescue and repair bicycles. We believe in empowerment through education and support the use of bicycles as a healthy and ecological means of transportation.
For more information about the 816 Bicycle collective, visit www.the816bike.org.
The 816 Bike Collective is a project of the Greater Kansas city Bicycle Federation
