SFGate has an article on shared workspaces -
here
Can they / similar functions be used for economic development? Are they successful?
It seems like you could fairly easily outfit an empty office building with the basics without breaking the bank. The major expense would seem to be someone to manage the facility / take payments / etc. Even if a community subsidized the operation it would seem like a good investment.
Anyone have experience with similar operations?
I have been researching this and related small/solo business tactics for some time. There are not many established economic development programs that are giving this much thought, which is really a shame. Small/solo businesses and contract workers are growing in numbers and there is a need for this type of space, especially if it can offer access to printing, binding, fax, and other services many home offices do not have, and are costly to take to a commercial service provider.
In addition to the business creation/expansion benefit, communities might give some thought to how such a facility might meet other community objectives. For example, why not locate the center in the downtown? In addition to helping to sustain revitalization, the downtown offers more to the center's members, such as access to coffee shops and other small businesses who may be clients or suppliers. Maybe, as they grow out of the center, they will become tenants in nearby buildings. Frankly, a downtown has a lot more to offer than the usual business park, college campus, or other sites economic developers try to pass off as good locations.
While there is merit to a single city creating this space, I think it would be amazing to see a network of spaces created by economic development agencies, where networking and training could be provided more efficiently and members would have the ability to drop into any center. We have been working on a business model for something like this, as I think a private company like mine could be contracted to manage the centers.
Anyone want to adopt a dog?
.Originally posted by bdaleray
Don't forget that the ORIGINAL concept of "personal" computer use AND the internet was to have a computer at work and public computers with access to the Army's Infonet at about 10,000 sites scattered around the country. You were supposed to carry your own data storage media, but that was it.
And nobody was expected to work on their "personal computers" at home.
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I recently completed a Histroic Preservation course offered through the real estate department at UTA.
We had the chance to check out renovated buildings, and one of them was a shared office space in southside Fort Worth. The layout was modern and trendy and seems to be doing well. Offices are lined along the sides that are available for lease on various terms with access to the main conference room and fitness center in back.
From what the developer told us they concept seems to be doing pretty well all the offices are leased up. These shared spaces are real popular for the mobile office person. It seems companies would rather send out individuals on a weekly monthly basis as opposed to securing room and board in a hotel.
Very cool concept.
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