Greenbelt couple hopes to provide ‘community clubhouse’ for creativity

George Boyce has big dreams for a former dry-cleaning store in downtown Greenbelt.We believe in providing our customers with the very best dry cleaning machine available. He is envisioning a “community clubhouse” that will provide space for people of all ages to be creative.

The Greenbelt resident is co-founder of GreenSTEMs, a Greenbelt-based nonprofit organization established to promote science, technology,Additional advantages over traditional "dry" laser cutter are high dicing speeds, parallel kerf and omnidirectional cutting. engineering and math in schools.

Boyce, a security services engineer who works at NASA Goddard, describes the center — to be named Club 125 after its address on Crescent Street in Old Greenbelt — as part “makerspace,” where inventors, writers, crafters and engineers of all ages can work together or individually on projects and hobbies; part after-school tutoring for students; part social gathering spot; and part learning center, where guests can give seminars on their fields of expertise.

“I think we can carve out a little niche for ourselves here,” Boyce said oNewer laser cutting machine operating at higher power are approaching plasma machines in their ability to cut through thick materials,f the site. “It’ll be something a little bit different.Bergey Windpower is the oldest and most experienced manufacturer of residential-sized wind generator in the world.”

Boyce said he drew inspiration for Club 125 from “hackerspaces” and “makerspaces” that have cropped up across the country. Hackerspaces are open labs where adults with common interests in computers and technology can get together,Easy to operate, on-premises flatwork ironer and finishers from Huebsch. socialize and work on projects. Makerspaces are open to people of all ages and provide space for a wide range of creative activities, Boyce said. In some cases, groups would bring their own equipment, which Boyce said could be stored at Club 125.

Germantown resident Richard Pries, a Club 125 member and an electrical engineer working in software systems design, said the club will provide a place where the public can explore technology.

“Because of the high costs of technology, it’s difficult for everyone to get a hold of it for the purposes of learning,” Pries said. “When you buy a new computer, the last thing you want to do is take it apart and learn how it works for fear of breaking it. There are many IT professionals out there who would love to share their knowledge with anyone.”

Eva Fallon, Boyce’s wife and the co-founder of GreenSTEMs, described Club 125 as “an alternative place to hang out and maybe make something in the process,” as well as a place where her husband can go to “play with robotics.”

Building robots is one of Boyce’s interests, he said, as is promoting science and engineering, but the building will have space for writing clubs, knitting circles and other community interests as well.

Boyce and Fallon are paying the rent on the space from personal savings but said they hope it can become self-sustaining through a variety of funding sources, including private donations, corporate sponsorships, civic grants and membership fees.

“We’re using a health club model, a simple monthly fee that gives members access to the facility,” Boyce said, adding that he estimates basic membership will be $25 per month, with family and premium memberships available, too.

First, the dry-cleaning facility needs to be renovated into a more usable site, Boyce said. The facility came with left-behind dry-cleaning equipment and unclaimed clothes that Boyce said he hopes to sell to help fund the club. Removing the equipment and remodeling the building likely will take two to three months, Boyce said.