Hello, friends! It’s time to play a game.
In my previous post, I described why the conventional methods for finding a space aren’t working well for us. Chances are that New Work City’s next home is hiding somewhere in Manhattan, off the usual real estate computer systems, waiting for us to find it.
While I’d love to walk the streets of NYC looking at every building myself, I think it would be far more fun for us to tackle the search for this place together.
The Game: Let’s Find New Work City’s New Home.
So what are we looking for, exactly? Something that might look a lot like this:
- A small building
- Likely owned by an individual and not a large firm
- Clearly zoned for commercial use
- In a pretty central area
- Looks like it might contain lofty, lovely, spacious, coworking-friendly space
How to Play
1. Scour. While going about your daily life, or in your spare time, walk the streets of Manhattan. We’re aiming for the rough area between Canal and 14th Streets, between Hudson Street and Broadway. Side streets are best. Keep your eyes open for a little building that looks like the one above. Also be on the lookout for “Space Available” signs in the windows or on the exterior of the building, though space is often available in buildings even when these signs aren’t present.
2. Inquire. Try to go into the building and find a superintendent or a tenant who will talk to you. This will only work during business hours. See if they know if any space is available in the building. We’re looking for 3,500 to 5,000 square feet of space. If they want to tell you more information, or want to show you a space, go for it! Who are we to stop you?
3. Document. Snap photos, note the location, and tag anything you put online with #nwcssh.
4. Contact. Email me at ssh [at] nwcny [dot] com, or @nwc us on Twitter.
The Prize
If you find the space that we end up moving into, you will be showered with the following fabulous prizes:
- One month of part-time membership in the new space that YOU discovered
- A night of (cheap) beer on Tony’s tab at the next TechDrinks
- One day with a soundtrack of your choice at NWC (within reason)
- The satisfaction of having helped a fabulous community
Leave any questions below. I should also note, I will be playing this game myself— so if you intend to find our new home, you’ll have to beat me to it :-)
Game on!
Cheers,
Mayor Tony
