Facilities
OFFICE
Houston Institute for Culture identified a public office space in April 2005 and signed a lease through Jennifer Rabon of the Rabon Reid Agency for a 5555 Morningside, Suite 204, Houston, Texas 77005-3240 on April 8, 2005. The building owner, Village Plus Properties, issued the keys to the organization through Jennifer Rabon on May 5, 2005.
With the generous support of the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Marshalls Service, Affiliated Systems, Houston Young Lawyers Association and the City of Houston, the organization quickly outgrew its facilities. The organization gave notice on March 3 that it would conclude our lease on May 4, 2006.
As a federally recognized [501(c)(3) tax exempt educational and charitable organization] and publicly funded institution, Houston Institute for Culture is subject to periodic audits. Our initial understanding of the size of the leased office space was 747 square feet (which includes an additional 15% to maintain public areas). The organization was requested to provide a floor plan of the space (which was not provided in the original lease (the exhibit was left blank); and the leasing agent said the owner would provide it). The actual office space measures 610 square feet (or 701.5 square feet with the 15% of public areas added on). The organization requested a floor plan of the office space (on three occasions - in person, on the ) and was finally provided a diagram of the walls with no dimensions. The City of Houston (Note: Our staff members believe it is beyond the building owner's ability to measure the space correctly because of its irregular size; the owner simply measured the rectangle the space would fit within.)
Members of Houston Young Lawyers Association, a supporting agency of Houston Institute for Culture, believe the organization overpaid $1,036 for the leased office space. A copy of the building plans and modifications has been requested from the City of Houston through Neighborhood Protection.
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
The organization was not fully refunded its deposit for the space. The explanation given was that it owed unpaid rent for four days in May 2006. When the organization received the keys to the space on May 5, leasing agent Jennifer Rabon assured the organization that the building owner would prorate the rent for that month, or adjust the due date to May 5, making the lease effective May 5, 2005 - May 4, 2006. The organization paid each month's rent on the May 5 deadline and organization director Mark Lacy confirmed this with building owner Adam Barker during a conversation and again in a Estoppel Certificate (date asseccable in HIFC files) that was requested from the organization.
Due to this setback, the organization reduced the number of children who will attend Camp Dos Cabezas during Spring 2006 by two. The organization will seek to resolve the misunderstanding with the building owner and increase the number of children who attend the camp next March.
ADDITIONAL NOTE - UPDATE:
The 5555 Morningside building owners additionally lost a lease on the substantial parking area for the building making class and meeting activities difficult for Houston Institute for Culture during April. The organization will relocate to 1827 West Alabama where parking will increase to approximately 80 spaces and class and event space to more than 6,000 square feet. Further updates will be posted in June.
OFFICIAL MAIL
Board of Directors
2601 S. Braeswood, #1402
Houston, TX 77025
Mailing Address
Astrodome Sation, Box 20182
Houston, TX 77225-0182
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