Was the McDonald's relocation from the suburbs to the city the wrong move? (Chicago: crime, hotel)

[Walkaboutcreek]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

my office just spent a lot of time and money on re-doing the office, making it an open floor plan and getting rid of cubicles. we went there one week and then covid happened and we had to shut down and work remotely.
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This was happening everywhere, no idea how they bring us back in that environment. They can be as safe as they want and have all the dividers, wipes and whatever. But sitting inside with a bunch of people is probably the riskiest thing one could do. An office is no different that a restaurant or school in that sense. Maybe worse since we spend so much time sitting with one another. One would have no idea of their infection status, where they have been, who they have been with and on.

I don't see it logistically possible until we get the infection rates so low they fade into the background and that is long long way.

The implications for commercial real estate are huge.

[Bitey]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

It is true that the Chi area is a very core-centric city, with all train lines and nearly all freeways/interstates leading to downtown. However, the true center of the Chicago area, is actually around where McD's old HQ in Oak Brook was... geographically speaking, the inner/mid western suburbs is the true center, considering all directions of the suburbs, as well as the city. I do agree that public transit however is very heavily focused to getting people to/from the core.

Oak Brook may be at or near the geographical center of the metro area, but for the vast majority it's a pain to get to by any means other than car. And it's a brutal drive from much of the region should rush-hour traffic volume return to its peak levels.

[Durpie]

Probably still a good move if the city doesn't contniue its decline and become Detroit. There is no other city like Chicago, so its going to take a lot of damage over time for it to become undesirable for corporations and young people.

But yes, this was bad timing as moving downtown was the trend. I'm sure some companies would have done things differently if they had a crystal ball. More people are going to move to the suburbs earlier than they would have otherwise. People who were on the fence would make the move. Companies on the fence about moving downtown would reconsider. Evidence of this is Macy's closing up shop.

[Walkaboutcreek]

Not like a big office complex in the suburbs is any safer to pile a bunch of people in. I'd hate to be holding a commercial real estate portfolio. Many should have been working from home for 10 years now but old cultures die hard. Covid will force positive change here in my view. Bandwith has caught up over last ten years. Many simply will never return to these spaces. Some yes, but square footage demands are forever changed.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

This was happening everywhere, no idea how they bring us back in that environment. They can be as safe as they want and have all the dividers, wipes and whatever. But sitting inside with a bunch of people is probably the riskiest thing one could do. An office is no different that a restaurant or school in that sense. Maybe worse since we spend so much time sitting with one another. One would have no idea of their infection status, where they have been, who they have been with and on.

I don't see it logistically possible until we get the infection rates so low they fade into the background and that is long long way.

The implications for commercial real estate are huge.

That's very similar to how we all felt during the onset of the AIDS epidemic, when I was working in the porn industry. Being a porn star is not all that it's cracked up to be when you have to look at your co-workers as someone with the potential to end your life. You may have seen some of my work, I starred in "Debbie Does Davenport", it was filmed in the Quad Cities.

[Walkaboutcreek]

So your real name is Debbie? ;-)

[Durpie]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

Not like a big office complex in the suburbs is any safer to pile a bunch of people in. I'd hate to be holding a commercial real estate portfolio. Many should have been working from home for 10 years now but old cultures die hard. Covid will force positive change here in my view. Bandwith has caught up over last ten years. Many simply will never return to these spaces. Some yes, but square footage demands are forever changed.

The problem is getting to work in the city taking trains. People are cramped like sardines on public transportation.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

So your real name is Debbie? ;-)

Nah, I played the lead role of the guy in Davenport, he was a male model that would help struggling artists who were having trouble drawing elephants, especially the trunk. Debbie was an Uber driver who drove him around. I still have back trouble from the scene done in that darned Prius of hers.

But it was way better than that job I had at Black Forest Timepieces, when I was in charge of cleaning the bird poop out of cuckoo clocks. Ah, youth.

[Walkaboutcreek]

Originally Posted by Durpie

The problem is getting to work in the city taking trains. People are cramped like sardines on public transportation.

Totally and a vast majority of white collar workers are proving they can work from home for most part. That will shift the whole model. No reason to get on a train or a grid locked road to go in period, waste of time and not productive. In hindsight my office was disgusting, I feel safer on the train. Perhaps people only go in once a month, given that the company saves on real estate and people are willing to live very far. And everything in between.

It will be years before this all shakes out but I think some migration patterns will evolve. And it will be deeper than just leaving Chicago or suburbs or wherever. Lots will be able to ask, if my paycheck is portable to anywhere in the world, where would it be? Naperville, Chicago? I like to think bigger. Maybe Davenport!

Everyone has a different idea of what is desirable. Many people live where they do simply because their job is there. Remove that, I don't see the brightest 20 and 30 somethings picking anything around here, there are simply more appealing places from a weather, scenery, culture and beyond.

Will be interesting to see unfold.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by Walkaboutcreek

Totally and a vast majority of white collar workers are proving they can work from home for most part. That will shift the whole model. No reason to get on a train or a grid locked road to go in period, waste of time and not productive. In hindsight my office was disgusting, I feel safer on the train. Perhaps people only go in once a month, given that the company saves on real estate and people are willing to live very far. And everything in between.

It will be years before this all shakes out but I think some migration patterns will evolve. And it will be deeper than just leaving Chicago or suburbs or wherever. Lots will be able to ask, if my paycheck is portable to anywhere in the world, where would it be? Naperville, Chicago? I like to think bigger. Maybe Davenport!

Everyone has a different idea of what is desirable. Many people live where they do simply because their job is there. Remove that, I don't see the brightest 20 and 30 somethings picking anything around here, there are simply more appealing places from a weather, scenery, culture and beyond.

Will be interesting to see unfold.

While I do think the WFH trend has, and will continue to gain steam, it's definitely not for everybody. Many people need human to human interaction on a regular basis, and cannot stay restrained in their house all day at a computer. Many want to get out, and are happy with commuting to their job, socializing, going out for lunch, and being physically at work. Sometimes it really is a thing of just getting out of your house. I know multiple people who have gone a bit crazy since this thing began. On the other hand, some people were made for WFH and appreciate it to a high level.

I don't see things being as desolate in downtown/work areas as they have been. Do I expect a full return to normal? No, not any time soon at least. But I also don't see how things have been going now as being sustainable in the long run. Not to mention, WFH jobs, particularly lower paying ones, are easier to outsource.