FranLab is getting evicted

[EEVblog]

Fran mentioned $1M minimum:
All in PA, all under $400k and I haven't even scratched the surface. Probably $2500/month repayment at most has got to be half of what's she's paying now for rent.

3 acres for $400k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/521-E-Avondale-Rd-West-Grove-PA-19390/9207589_zpid/?

This oddball shop kinda place would work for $250k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/376-Walnut-St-York-PA-17403/350966292_zpid/?mmlb=g,10

Another oddball shop kinda thing under $400k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/647-S-29th-St-Harrisburg-PA-17111/2059486757_zpid/?

8BR estate style home $320k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1516-Mineral-Spring-Rd-Reading-PA-19602/296640040_zpid/

Former katate school/house for $189k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/109-S-Main-St-Davidsville-PA-15928/2077263417_zpid/?

Huge spawling property on 10acres that needs reno for $300k
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/123-Tudor-Manor-Rd-Latrobe-PA-15650/186833934_zpid/

Big unfinished commercial/residential space for $160k!
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/11-E-Main-St-3-Newville-PA-17241/345073104_zpid/

[Randy222]

$400k + util + insurance. Still is a lot.
3acres could possible be carved up to make another rental space to offset the cost of everything, like rental casita for ABnB.

Another option is to find small place to buy to live at, then move everything else to a stable rental space. Sometimes there will be buildings that are partially used, so negotiating cost to rent is better. The issue in USA and many places around the world, prices of everything went sky high.

[nctnico]

$400k + util + insurance. Still is a lot.

It is but OTOH, according to Dave's numbers a mortgage of $2500 / month is better compared to renting several places costing more in total. It should be doable to pay a $400k mortgage off in 15 to 20 years.

Another option would be to buy a plot of land and put a building on it. One of my customers figured out that a greenhouse is the cheapest form of building so his company is in a greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse he has added some office spaces & studio area to work in. It actually is quite nice.

[EEVblog]

$400k + util + insurance. Still is a lot.

Sure, then go for a $200k dump and do it up over time. Fran has done her own fitouts before, so she's very capable.
That $189k karate school I posted is pretty decent. Sure it's in the middle of nowhere, but better than living in your car?
It just needs a change in mindset and a willingness to move out the big city into a small town or the suburbs.

Another option is to find small place to buy to live at, then move everything else to a stable rental space. Sometimes there will be buildings that are partially used, so negotiating cost to rent is better. The issue in USA and many places around the world, prices of everything went sky high.

I suggested several very cheap rental storage/lab places a shortish drive outside of Philly back when she was at risk of not being able to get a storage space, and was met with a resounding no.
In Fran's case though I can understand why she'd want the lab in the living space. If I lived on my own then I'd want the convenience of the lab at home.
The only problem here is, it's Philly. It's like trying to buy a place in Sydney, you can't.

[EEVblog]

Fran has done a video on why she cant leave Philly.
I left a comment about if it came down to living in her car in Philly, we should crowd source a bus and she can convert that into a lab/home. But the comment seems to be gone now.

[Gyro]

After watching that video it seems clear that this is 92 pages 'wasted' on a lost cause. There is clearly no chance of persuasion. Sad, but there it is.

The most this thread might achieve is the addition or loss of a few Patreons, probably in equal measure.

[EEVblog]

After watching that video it seems clear that this is 92 pages 'wasted' on a lost cause. There is clearly no chance of persuasion. Sad, but there it is.

There is only one way Fran might be persuaded, and that's by other "out" trans people convincing her, as she mentioned in the video.

I once found a suitable cheap large house ($150k IIRC) 45min outside of Philly that even had a big LGBT community centre literally just down the road, so I guessed the town couldn't be that unsafe, but my suggestion was shot down in flames. As a fairly close friend, I've tried multiple times, but she told me to please stop sending her suggestions.
This thread is still interesting as it has lead to lots of discussion of our own circumstances etc, and maybe someone will come up with a winning suggestion that jelps out Fran.

There are literal lists out there of LGBT friendly towns in PA, the state where she lives.
https://queermoneypodcast.com/podcast/gay-pennsylvania/
https://www.movoto.com/guide/pa/the-7-best-towns-in-pennsylvania-for-lgbt-families/
https://957benfm.com/2024/05/20/pa-city-one-of-best-lgbtq-friendly/
I guess they are all wrong and the city of Philly is the only truly safe place?

I really hope the new owner doesn't increase the rent in December and she can continue to eek out enough support on Patreon, fingers crossed.

[EEVblog]

6500 sqft place in Erie PA for $164k, voted one of the top LGBT friendly towns in the US

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/603-E-21st-St-Erie-PA-16503/309248848_zpid/
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/01/12/advocate-ranks-erie-pa-7th-queerest-city-america

[Fraser]

I have dipped in and out of this thread since it started and it soon became clear to me that the Fran accommodation situation was very complicated. I have seen sensible suggestions here and yet Fran is not open to them. Everyone has a right to decide where they wish to live, but I find it unusual that Fran appears to expect others to help her finance that choice through donations. In life there are people who you can help, and a few that either do not want help or ignore good advice. We are all different and can have our own mental challenges. In this case I fear that Fran has closed her mind to all advice and just wants money to finance her ‘dream’. Not all dreams can be realised though. A closed mind cannot easily be reasoned with and professional help is sometimes needed to unlock that mind.

Whilst I feel some sympathy for Fran as a tenant who gets evicted or rent gouged through no fault of her own, she is renting multiple properties and this does not put her in the same league as those who can barely afford to rent just the home they live in. Someone in Frans situation wanting others to finance her multiple rental agreements can come across as having a somewhat “Entitled” and unrealistic attitude. I really think Fran should seek some professional cognitive behaviour therapy to possibly adjust her view on life, if such is needed. It could open her mind to the opportunities that await her if she is willing to loosen her grip on her Philadelphia dream/fixation.

Fraser

[nctnico]

Such therapy could be a good option indeed. I truly feel sorry for people who keep running in circles because -sorry for putting it like this- their head is stuck up their ass while they could achieve so much more and get so much more joy out of life otherwise.

[K5_489]

After watching that video it seems clear that this is 92 pages 'wasted' on a lost cause. There is clearly no chance of persuasion. Sad, but there it is.

The most this thread might achieve is the addition or loss of a few Patreons, probably in equal measure.

I had no idea who Fran was before this thread, and will likely forget about her/him/whatever shortly after this.  But yes...6 years, 92 pages, apparently multiple and frequent crises???  Videos full of I can't I can't I can't excuses...seems like there may well be a manufactured component here.  Much like staged "TikTok pranks", I feel like there just might be a level of attention seeking staged crisis here in an attempt to drum up likes/subscribers/business. 

Just like any other business run by someone with more than two brain cells to rub together, you ALWAYS have business stability in mind first and foremost.  You have contingency plans in place.  You ALWAYS have backup plans ready to rock and roll if the unthinkable happens, and none of these ever involve whining on YouTube about your personal problems while simultaneously shooting down every single suggestion because "I can't....". 

[EEVblog]

I had no idea who Fran was before this thread, and will likely forget about her/him/whatever shortly after this.  But yes...6 years, 92 pages, apparently multiple and frequent crises???  Videos full of I can't I can't I can't excuses...seems like there may well be a manufactured component here.  Much like staged "TikTok pranks", I feel like there just might be a level of attention seeking staged crisis here in an attempt to drum up likes/subscribers/business. 

As a close freind of Fran and someone who has discussed this stuff privately with her, she is completely genuine and honest about her situation. She really does believe her life is in danger if she lives anywhere but certain parts of a big LGBT friendly city like Philly. And also that she has exhausted all avenues of getting a loan due to her business structure. So she truly does believe she is "stuck" in this situtation forever until the wheels fall off the financial billy cart.
She talks about it all for reasons of genuine transparency, as the public are funding everything, and that's the model she has chosen.

[nctnico]

I had no idea who Fran was before this thread, and will likely forget about her/him/whatever shortly after this.  But yes...6 years, 92 pages, apparently multiple and frequent crises???  Videos full of I can't I can't I can't excuses...seems like there may well be a manufactured component here.  Much like staged "TikTok pranks", I feel like there just might be a level of attention seeking staged crisis here in an attempt to drum up likes/subscribers/business. 

As a close freind of Fran and someone who has discussed this stuff privately with her, she is completely genuine and honest about her situation. She really does believe her life is in danger if she lives anywhere but certain parts of a big LGBT friendly city like Philly. And also that she has exhausted all avenues of getting a loan due to her business structure. So she truly does believe she is "stuck" in this situtation forever until the wheels fall off the financial billy cart.

It is none of my business but it makes me wonder whether Fran has a retirement plan in place. I hope so for her sake, but I fear the worst.

[EEVblog]

It is none of my business but it makes me wonder whether Fran has a retirement plan in place. I hope so for her sake, but I fear the worst.

I don't think she has ever mentioned any retirement savings (401K in the US).
Here in Australia, although I'm self employed I'm legally obligated to pay my super fund (401K equiv here) an extra 11% of my income each month. I don't think that same law exists in the US?
One of Fran's problems is that her income (Patreon + Youtube) is not counted as income, which is why she's unable to get a home loan. I don't think she has an LLC company.
But people like Fran don't retire anyway 

[amyk]

I left a comment about if it came down to living in her car in Philly, we should crowd source a bus and she can convert that into a lab/home. But the comment seems to be gone now.

Maintaining old buses is not cheap either. If you follow the BusGreaseMonkey channel you'll know what I mean.

[tom66]

I know someone like Fran (not trans but otherwise similar) who is in a similar housing dilemma, though they are in government subsidised housing here in the UK.  I have tried over the past decade to help them out.  I have given up.  If someone is not willing to accept help, to make the changes to their life for the better, you cannot help them.  The adage of a horse to water comes to mind.  They need to fail, or be left alone, and hopefully come to the right conclusion themselves but emotionally investing in them further is not conducive to your own mental health.

[EEVblog]

I left a comment about if it came down to living in her car in Philly, we should crowd source a bus and she can convert that into a lab/home. But the comment seems to be gone now.

Maintaining old buses is not cheap either. If you follow the BusGreaseMonkey channel you'll know what I mean.

Yeah but she'd still have income to pay for that. She's actually on a relatively decent income, it's just that expenses are very high with 4 rental places and rent increasing every year while the incoming is dropping slightly every year, or at best being maintained.
If she did move into her car as she said might happen, then that bus is sounding like a mighty good option IMO.

She's already passed step 1 of the Franlab progressive shutdown, selling the bike. Although that sounds like it was forced by the building owner rather than financial. Although I guess she couldn't find/afford another place to house it.
Here are the other steps she has mentioned:
Step 2 - Shut down the factory and sell the gear like the metalworking machines etc.
Step 3 - Shut down one storage unit
Step 4 - Shut down 2nd storage unit
Step 5 - Shut down the apartment/lab and live in the car

IMO she could still survive as a Youtuber with a very small lab. Heck, even her rants and science news videos are quite popular, so she could easily transistion to that and do it from a cheap bed-sit apartment if she had to.

So lot's of runway left before she ends up living in the car. It's how to maintain the full "FranLab" infrastructure, and for how long.

I don't know why she hasn't taken to doing sponsored videos. If I had to choose between going back to a day job or doing sponsored videos, you'd be seeing me hocking razors or something.

[SiliconWizard]

I agree, but still, I have a hard time believing that living in a bus (let alone a car) would be any safer than relocating somwhere more affordable. It's my understanding by now that she's had bad experiences in the past and knows the topic pretty well, still, I have a hard time believing there isn't a single place in the US except downtown Philly.

But if that has to happen, certainly a bus would be a way better option than a car. She could still have some activity and have relative comfort. In her car, I highly doubt that.

[MK14]

Fran has done a video on why she cant leave Philly.
I left a comment about if it came down to living in her car in Philly, we should crowd source a bus and she can convert that into a lab/home. But the comment seems to be gone now.

Why not a camper van (motorhome or RV in US speak), with a built in toilet, then their fears over being attacked when going to the toilet and/or concerns over laws as to who can use which toilet (Male/Female), should be reduced.

They could even convert it (or get people to convert it for them), into a mini-electronics lab and YouTube filming studio/location.

Then buy (or rent if you must), a sensible home.

I think at least one of the technology YouTubers, does something similar.  There is one who lives on a boat (or use to, https://www.youtube.com/@simonegiertz/featured ).

[EEVblog]

I agree, but still, I have a hard time believing that living in a bus (let alone a car) would be any safer than relocating somwhere more affordable.

It's not, I've been saying for years that she is way safer in a house somewhere on her own land, even if it's in a town that doesn't like her.
It's just that she mentioned living in the car in the video, so I suggested a change of lifestle to a converted bus/van is at least a better option. I can't imagine anything more dangerous than living in your car presumably still in Philly, that's mad.

[EEVblog]

Why not a camper van (motorhome or RV in US speak), with a built in toilet, then their fears over being attacked when going to the toilet and/or concerns over laws as to who can use which toilet (Male/Female), should be reduced.
They could even convert it (or get people to convert it for them), into a mini-electronics lab and YouTube filming studio/location.

Then buy (or rent if you must), a sensible home.

I think at least one of the technology YouTubers, does something similar.  There is one who lives on a boat (or use to, https://www.youtube.com/@simonegiertz/featured ).

That was my suggestion, convert a bus or van/RV into both a mobile home and lab.
Minimal overhead cost, and mostly solves the toilet issue, at least to a point where you can enter a hostile state and do some stuff.
Plus the freedom to move around and try and find a place you like to potenitally stay. If you get any hassle, just move on.

I've also suggested in the past, as a long term backup plan make a list of potential new cities/towns (I posted a list before that are LGBT friendly) and spend say a week in every potential location to check them out. I simply cannot believe Philly is the only place she can safely live no matter how many times she tries to assure me I can't know what it's like.

At present, one other problem she has, and she mentioned it in the video, is that it takes her several months to move because she has so much stuff. She said this fact has locked her into another 12 months at the current place even if they raise the rent to astronomical levels. In december she will be forced pay whatever they want because she can't possibly find an alterntive in time.
Tought spot to be in   

[MK14]

That was my suggestion, convert a bus or van/RV into both a mobile home and lab.
Minimal overhead cost, and mostly solves the toilet issue, at least to a point where you can enter a hostile state and do some stuff.
Plus the freedom to move around and try and find a place you like to potenitally stay. If you get any hassle, just move on.

I've also suggested in the past, as a long term backup plan make a list of potential new cities/towns (I posted a list before that are LGBT friendly) and spend say a week in every potential location to check them out. I simply cannot believe Philly is the only place she can safely live no matter how many times she tries to assure me I can't know what it's like.

At present, one other problem she has, and she mentioned it in the video, is that it takes her several months to move because she has so much stuff. She said this fact has locked her into another 12 months at the current place even if they raise the rent to astronomical levels. In december she will be forced pay whatever they want because she can't possibly find an alterntive in time.
Tought spot to be in   

I'd go further, and suggest, that they could even increase their viewership and improve their YouTube channel, in a good way.

Because, the RV, (as well as having some kind of home lab/base, as well), would allow them to explore the vast range (I suspect), of American sites of interest, within Space Centres, Computer and Electronics places, along with other technologically relevant/interesting places.

They could make videos inside the various places, interview relevant people, either on-site or in their mobile RV YouTube studio.  They could even do a tear-down and/or demonstration video, of stuff they have bought or borrowed, from that location.

My understanding is America (North) is a vast place, with all sorts of (sometimes forgotten), areas of technological interest.  Even if it is just outside (where legal), of Area 51, along with Fran's possible tales and take, on the location.

You could even take the RV (or hire a similar one) abroad.

[EEVblog]

I'd go further, and suggest, that they could even increase their viewership and improve their YouTube channel, in a good way.

Because, the RV, (as well as having some kind of home lab/base, as well), would allow them to explore the vast range (I suspect), of American sites of interest, within Space Centres, Computer and Electronics places, along with other technologically relevant/interesting places.

This was actually my idea with the EEVdiscover channel, but, you know, wife and kids and all that...

If I was single and had nothing tying me here, yeah, I'd be on the road shooting videos. My channel would be very different.

Everyday astronaut did a van studio conversion:

[nctnico]

I agree, but still, I have a hard time believing that living in a bus (let alone a car) would be any safer than relocating somwhere more affordable.

It's not, I've been saying for years that she is way safer in a house somewhere on her own land, even if it's in a town that doesn't like her.
It's just that she mentioned living in the car in the video, so I suggested a change of lifestle to a converted bus/van is at least a better option. I can't imagine anything more dangerous than living in your car presumably still in Philly, that's mad.

True. A car isn't particulary safe and a I'd say an RV isn't as well. Both are pretty easy to get in and when you are in a remote area you are all alone without help. When living in an RV it might be possible to park / sleep in a secured area with other RV 'dwellers'.

[MK14]

I'd go further, and suggest, that they could even increase their viewership and improve their YouTube channel, in a good way.

Because, the RV, (as well as having some kind of home lab/base, as well), would allow them to explore the vast range (I suspect), of American sites of interest, within Space Centres, Computer and Electronics places, along with other technologically relevant/interesting places.

This was actually my idea with the EEVdiscover channel, but, you know, wife and kids and all that...

If I was single and had nothing tying me here, yeah, I'd be on the road shooting videos. My channel would be very different.

Everyday astronaut did a van studio conversion:

Yes, that van studio conversion is rather amazing!
That, 70 foot, vertical extendable camera pole (similar to a small radios extendable antenna), is a cool way of filming a space rocket launch, or similar.

I would worry that Fran, would insist on the massive, very long type of RV (the ones the size of a coach, suitable for taking 44 people, on a long road trip), then fill it with the kitchen sink and everything else.  Even though, it would be better to travel light and easier/cheaper to drive one, a similar size, to the one in the video, you put in your post.

On the other hand, if you can sleep in it, make meals, toilet/bathroom facilities, electronics lab, and YouTube studio.  Maybe a larger style one, would fit the bill better.