PSS world medical and Advanced Disposal looking at downtown

[fsquid]

only matters what the decision makers think

[Captain Zissou]

Disclaimer: I work at the PSS Corporate campus.

Sadly, very few people (in fact, exactly NONE that I've talked to) here have any desire to make the move to the Core.  Basically, because they're all of the stereotypical suburban mindset that downtown is dirty and unsafe, etc.

Sad, because I'd love it if we did make that move.

Me too, and I've heard the same things.  Also, many of the employees I work with live in Saint Johns County.  I don't know if that is representative of the entire company, but I imagine that any move that is made would strive for a central location for the most employees possible.  Unfortunately that wouldn't be downtown.

[Debbie Thompson]

They are clueless about downtown, aren't they?  And the decision makers will probably make that decision based on what is best for the company's bottom line, not where their associates live and what would be convenient for them. At least, that's how most companies do it.  This one could be different for all I know.

[cline]

They are clueless about downtown, aren't they?  And the decision makers will probably make that decision based on what is best for the company's bottom line, not where their associates live and what would be convenient for them. At least, that's how most companies do it.  This one could be different for all I know.

Actually there are many companies that take into consideration where their employees work and try to locate in a central location.  That's part of the reason we have the office park mecca on the southside.  It is pretty central to SJC, Beaches, etc.

[fsquid]

They are clueless about downtown, aren't they?  And the decision makers will probably make that decision based on what is best for the company's bottom line, not where their associates live and what would be convenient for them. At least, that's how most companies do it.  This one could be different for all I know.

that's what we do. 

[duvaldude08]

Then theres this. What is considered a "central location"? If I stay on the northside or westside, but have to drive to the southside for work, the southside would not be a "central location."

[fsujax]

well, I am sure most of the Everbank employees didnt want to locate downtown. From what I heard many of them now enjoy working downtown so far.

[duvaldude08]

well, I am sure most of the Everbank employees didnt want to locate downtown. From what I heard many of them now enjoy working downtown so far.

I actually know someone who works at Everbank, and they all love it. IF youre company moves, and you dont like it, what are people going to do, quit? DONT THINK SO LOL

[fsujax]

^^I agree with that. No they aren't going to quit.

[fsquid]

Yep, that's why we make decisions based on the bottom line

[Captain Zissou]

I think the responsibility is on both parties for the city and the company to join together to develop the type of bond that BofA and Charlotte have or Coca Cola and Atlanta.  You cannot fault a company for not fully embracing the city if the city does not embrace them back.  In the same way, if the city reaches out to the city in the form of incentives or something of the sort, the company should seriously consider what the city proposes.  Since PSS was founded in Jax, is headquartered in Jax, has the bulk of its employees in Jax, etc.... I think they should embrace the city and the city them.  There are many ways that this could be accomplished, but building downtown or redeveloping an urban core site would be a good one.  PSS is very loyal to its employees and cares very much about their QOL, so if they do find that most of the employees live in SJC, I don't think a move downtown will ever happen.  With the density that exists in Southpoint in terms of employee numbers compared to the region, a well designed mid-density headquarters that activates the streets around it could set a precedent for other companies in the area.  Unfortunately, the zoning of the southside makes that impossible. So that brings me full circle to my initial point that it takes both the city and the company to make a headquarters that benefits all parties involved.

[fsquid]

Then theres this. What is considered a "central location"? If I stay on the northside or westside, but have to drive to the southside for work, the southside would not be a "central location."

then you are an outlier.  We have people from Ortega and St. Augustine in this office.  They both are outliers as most people here live at the beach or in SJC.

[Tacachale]

^Right. At this point so much of Jacksonville's "office population" lives in that area. Of course a lot of them moved there at least in part because of the proximity to work, as it's where most of the employers are. But either way, if the company asks people where they live, that will be the answer.

That's one reason we need to really level the playing field for downtown through incentives and investment. When we do that the assets of the urban environment will compete with the assets of a suburban environment.

[fsquid]

If downtown was much cheaper compared to Baymeadows Way, our real estate people would make us move down there.  We don't have a big enough presence here for incentives though.

[CityLife]

Then theres this. What is considered a "central location"? If I stay on the northside or westside, but have to drive to the southside for work, the southside would not be a "central location."

Central location=central for current and future employees. For companies with middle income and up jobs, that typically does not mean Westside or Northside.

I've often heard that it is not where the employees live, but where the executives live or want to live. This is pure speculation (based on experience), but I'd be willing to bet that companies with executives that live in San Marco, Ortega, Avondale, Epping Forest, and other upscale areas near downtown are more likely to be located downtown than companies with executives that live in Ponte Vedra, Marsh Landing, Deerwood, Atlantic Beach, and other upscale areas that are closer to the Southside.

As for people not wanting to work downtown...they simply know no better, because they have no experience. I posted this below during parking day about working DT vs. the burbs.

"I think Park(ing) day also shows the benefits of working DT. I am so friggin pissed off that I'm missing out on all the lounging and random fun that appears to be happening (via Facebook pics). I mean really, how often are there random fun things that occur in suburban office parks? You have to drive places to get food. You have to drive places to get a post work drink. There are never festivals. There are never events. Traffic is equally crappy. There is no St. Johns River. And so on.

I've worked at a suburban office park near Tinseltown, and now near St. Augustine, but have also worked in DT Jax and near DT Jax. You simply can't match the workday experience DT. On days like today, even hanging out at Parking Day for an hour would make it feel like it wasn't a workday."