“It’s very important for us to have permanent space with the variety of equipment we have,” Meyer said. “Some tools weigh about 6,000 pounds apiece.”

Price was also a factor, he said. Without its separately owned space, the nonprofit Sector67 would have to pay property taxes as part of StartingBlock, putting the estimated annual lease at $30,000 a year, said Meyer.

“Right now, we pay $50,000 a year for rent. So it doesn’t make any sense to move to a place that costs two-thirds of what we pay now,” he said.

Sector67 is instead “very actively looking at different real estate options,” Meyer said.

Resnick, who’s also been in the core planning group, said the real stumbling block for Sector67 came when the StartingBlock project moved from other potential sites and became part of an eight-story office tower.

American Family Insurance Group will build and own the building. StartingBlock will occupy two floors, with 50,000 square feet, and American Family will move some of its offices into the other six floors.