Cashew,
Why aren’t the residents using it? Is it not open for the residents use? Do you have anything set up? Do you throw community functions for them that are part of your monthly stuff?
We do activities throughout the year in our clubhouse to draw attention to our space and utilize it fully because otherwise its just wasted real estate.
We have parties for our all ages community. We throw a Valentines party where we do fun stuff for the kids, crafts and decorate cookies. We do an Easter party with the egg hunt and the whole 9 yards. We do a summer carnival, cinco de mayo, National Night Out, a summer bbq, a Fall festival, a Halloween bash, a Thanksgiving dinner, two movie nights each month, ladies night, mens night, football weekends, kids church camp. MMA dojo practice, school meetings, neighorhood watch, AA, video game playoffs, billiards games, bible study, taco tuesday, spaghetti friday, cooking classes, keggers at the pool ( 2 drink max), we open the pool up all summer long, see what I am saying you could use the heck out of that place
So, since I veered off… we have a space for our residents, a gym, a game room with fooseball, air hockey and billiards, an outdoor pool, outdoor playground for the littles, and a laundry room. We have finite rules of use, so we are protected and can retain their deposit otherwise its fully refundable, for our location. You could increase your revenue by allowing private events. You could just do an hourly plus a cleaning fee. Here in WA the local is about $45-55/hr rental non refundable in a standard public space. But each market is different and so are each locations value, so yours would be different.
If you haven’t asked around, ask the local community center/city center areas what their hourly rental rate is and what all is included to get a local base line. What’s cool is that there are infinite possibilities…what do you want to do with it? We have event tents, folding tables, folding chairs, bathrooms, and an available full kitchen they can use included, as long as they take care of the space. we do not give out trash bags or TP or the vacuum for clean up, but we give a suggestion list of what they should bring for cleaning the space.
Just don’t forget your residents, in theory, should have first right of refusal to use it, and give a few weeks out for the booking so you have some time to plan your staff, and bump people out that can’t make the 2 week in advance minimum or whatever it is. You gotta train your residents to respect it. Retaining a refundable deposit or two when someone violates your stated rules… it will travel like wild fire, and make you extra dollars. Just be ethical about it you know?
If you start with your residents, advertise it for free in your newsletter and on your community board, and see what shakes loose. It will spread like wild fire, you can advertise for free all over town, just ask around where you want to throw up a poster, call the local photographers and planners, and just get the calls out there. .
Make sure the space is tight and right though.