They’re not making anyone on telework come in to the office. But they’re moving all office-based stuff wayyyyy out to the cheap-ass burbs. They’re never coming back to expensive downtown buildings (beyond a tiny executive footprint).

Comments

NorseTikiBar t1_j6ksq80 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:55 AM

I mean, you're including DC in your "wake TF up" moment, which just tells me you don't actually know what Bowser said. She wants guvvies to either start going back into the office or give up the office space to someone they can charge commercial property tax/convert to residential.

... also, like, I would quit if my employer moved out to Ashburn of all places and I'm certain I wouldn't be the only one.

hemlockone t1_j6lauum wrote on January 31, 2023 at 3:10 AM

Ashburn = as*burn.

What's worst is that they consider it commutable from the rest of the metro region. Like, no, DC's commuting shed is large because people value more space too much, because it minimizes average commute for the metro region, and because you can be mobile in DC after you get off your commuter train/bus. Ashburn is centered between farms (albeit very pretty ones) and ffx; it's much further from the rest of the metro region. You also can't walk to anything once you're there.

hmm138 OP t1_j6kw5mx wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:20 AM

DC does not just mean Bowser. It means the community, and I particularly mean the downtown landlord community. I actually agree with Bowser that the feds should give up the spaces. But thinking forcing feds (and private sector office workers too) back into working from the office is the magical answer to downtown’s structural problems is short-sighted and won’t work.

Itslolo52484 t1_j6l65sf wrote on January 31, 2023 at 2:34 AM

DC takes control of the buildings to convert them for who? I think DC will slowly start losing residents due to virtual work.

mwbbrown t1_j6lbxrl wrote on January 31, 2023 at 3:18 AM

Converts them to housing.

It was a political speech for the sound bites, office to residential conversions are expensive and very rare. The Mayor knows nothing will change, but it looks good to the landlords she is trying to make happy.

alatennaub t1_j6mf8h6 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 10:49 AM

And they'll probably still advertise positions out there in Ashburn as "Washington area" even though we all know no reasonable person would consider it as such lol

[deleted] t1_j6pcq7d wrote on January 31, 2023 at 11:09 PM

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pomegranatecloud t1_j6ktrs0 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:02 AM

Cool story bro

Snoo-33261 t1_j6ksuf1 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:56 AM

That area isn’t cheap anymore but I understand your sentiment.

hmm138 OP t1_j6kwc3j wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:21 AM

Commercial real estate is cheap out there

keyjan t1_j6ks74s wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:51 AM

Not the first time this has happened; the LOC film unit moved out to the old Federal Reserve bunker in Culpeper.