41 minutes ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

Once the pandemic is officially declared over, I think life will go back to what we were used to. We are well aware of pandemics, yet life went back to normal once the 1918 flu was declared over. I get irritated when I hear COVID is the flu, but when the pandemic is over, I'm not going to avoid going to a busy restuarant and talk to people at a bar over concerns from a cold or seasonal flu.

 

I think you’ll see everyone relax as treatment for the virus improves.  I mean look at how much we’ve learned about the virus in a few short months?  Have to think even without a vaccine, the treatment will continue to improve.

Not specific to downtown, but..

Pandemic gives Cleveland an opportunity to attract remote workers

 

“My friend Lee Zapis recently emailed me an article that ran in Crain's in 2001 titled, "Time to put tech at the top of the agenda." The article, written by Brian Tucker, laments the missed opportunities Mayor Jane Campbell's administration had on technology initiatives. Almost 20 years later, Cleveland has come a long way in the technology sector. Now the coronavirus gives us a new opportunity to make progress.“

 

“I'm sure many of you reading this column have been working from home. A recent CNBC/Survey Monkey survey found that 83% of tech workers were able to work from home during this pandemic. That same survey found that 27% of respondents want to continue to work from home when the pandemic ends. In fact, tech firms such as Google and Facebook have announced that workers can continue to work from home until the end of the year. Two firms, Square and Twitter, have announced workers can work from home permanently. This isn't the first time I've written about remote work and my bullish outlook on Cleveland's tech community. However, these unfortunate circumstances have given Cleveland an opportunity.”

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/young-professionals-blog/pandemic-gives-cleveland-opportunity-attract-remote-workers

 

The author pretty simply suggests recruiting and incentivizing remote workers.  I really hope this is not only under consideration but a plan that’s already in motion.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/downtown-cleveland-alliance-occupancy-and-store-fronts-are-increasing

I work in the office design and commercial furniture spec realm. Companies are definitely de-densifying the pack-em-all in floorplate using benching systems that were all the rage prior to the pandemic. The focus now is giving people a reason to come to work. Height adjustable desks, fancy ergonomic chairs, more space, more separation/privacy, more and larger monitors, more loungy collaboration areas, more perks (fancy coffee machines...etc), more private heads down flexible space, more "wellness" rooms...and they all need to add floorspace to do this. And a lot are spending money doing it.

 

The private corner/window office thing is kinda dead mostly though. They have them (law firms, banking), but they are more often designed as flex and can be used for other functions when the primary occupant is traveling, or they are free address for anyone to use if available. Can't even count how many former corner offices I have reconfigured into small collaboration/media rooms.

 

One thing not mentioned, and I don't know exactly how this works, but a company can write off money spent on "furniture" after like 7 years? So many of these companies were at or past that lifespan of the interior office space furnishings once covid hit and are ready to buy new.

 

You'd be shocked to see what companies just leave behind when they move. 10's of thousands of $ spent on custom boardroom conference tables, Aeron Chairs, $10,000 sofas...etc. Another lower rent company comes in and the real estate company that owns the building includes all of this used furniture that was left behind as an enticement. Or there are companies that charge to remove it all, and then re-sell it to lower rent companies.

 

My company is busy AF and hiring like crazy for this trend of enticing people back.

It sounds like some companies may end up adding square footage? Even if their workers come in only three days per week or, for a certain percentage of the staff, not at all.

32 minutes ago, KJP said:

It sounds like some companies may end up adding square footage? Even if their workers come in only three days per week or, for a certain percentage of the staff, not at all.

Yes, that is what I see. And honestly, those workers that do come in and engage and network (with co-workers, industry peers, clients) may be the ones retained if another layoff comes around. Some people are immune of course because they are stellar at their job, but there are a lot that WFH that will be expendable IMO. 

 

5 Years ago, my industry was pushing sit/stand desks and more workstyles in the office and nobody was biting. Now it is the norm.

9 hours ago, metrocity said:

Yes, that is what I see. And honestly, those workers that do come in and engage and network (with co-workers, industry peers, clients) may be the ones retained if another layoff comes around. Some people are immune of course because they are stellar at their job, but there are a lot that WFH that will be expendable IMO. 

 

5 Years ago, my industry was pushing sit/stand desks and more workstyles in the office and nobody was biting. Now it is the norm.

This has always been my take.  Unless I individually was making my company tons of money or had a unique talent, I would be scared to death that my boss would think I was a slacker, especially when compared to those in the office, whether this was true or not.  Call it career paranoia.  There was plenty of that in my generation and I cannot believe it has changed to any great extent.  Who gets the promotion and raise.  Office guy/gal should have the leg up.