Classes at 3rd Ward Philadelphia are done: Is the makerspace next?

Upcoming classes at 3rd Ward Philadelphia have been cancelled, sources are telling Technically Philly, including one 3rd Ward instructor and member and one student of a 3rd Ward class.

Technically Philly has heard rumors for the past few weeks about the makerspace closing as a whole, and 3rd Ward Brooklyn, which opened in May 2006, also appears to be in trouble, according to reports from the New York Observer and Gothamist. 3rd Ward Philadelphia staffers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How permanent the closure is just speculation for the moment.

This news comes after reports that 3rd Ward was looking to raise $1.5 million on Fundrise, a crowdfunding platform. The organization said that the 27,000 square-foot 3rd Ward Philadelphia, which opened in April 2013, nearly a year after its original launch date, was “requiring more capital than expected to achieve profitability or reach cash flow break-even.”

Gothamist also reported that 3rd Ward Philadelphia cut 50 percent of its Philadelphia staff in July.

Impact Hub Philly, the coworking space being run out of 3rd Ward Philadelphia, will continue to operate, said Impact Hub Philly staffer Jeff Shiau. Sign up to be a founding member here.

The space was developed by Philadelphia businessman Paul Maiello and New York City developer David Belt, which could mean that even if 3rd Ward as an organization closes or is on hold for now, other activities at the space could continue.

3rd Ward’s website no longer lists any Philadelphia classes. One student, who had only completed one class out of the series he paid for, said he was told he would receive “credit” so he could take another 3rd Ward class but said that 3rd Ward has not returned his phone calls since then.