Before I comment. The reason this is an airport free zone this month is that the airport is in negotiations with an airline to maybe have service this winter season. If they decided to come then we should keep the airport Part 139 certified.
That said, this committee should be looking into:
- The cost savings to downgrade to General Aviation if we do not get this airline.
- Putting together an RFP to long-term lease or outright sell ORH and market it extensively.
Not saying that looking into long-term alternatives is a bad idea but what about short-term alternatives?
4 comments:
Sorry everyone, I know this is off topic to today’s article about the airport but I didn’t want this to get lost in the previous blog entries. 34 Comments, is that some kind of record Bill?
Ok, Jordan Levy finally addressed the UNUM announcement about moving from their present location on yesterday’s show. He had a gentleman on with him after the 5:30 news that has been with UNUM since the Paul Revere days. They talked about the company’s decision and where/why they were looking. The guest said that the present facilities are not conducive to doing business in this day and age. They need modern offices of around 170,000 sq. feet to accommodate their present staff of 700 employees with room for some moderate growth. After a very comprehensive survey of their employees and where they live, the preference is stay right in the city.
There have been preliminary discussions about some parcels in the area near the new courthouse and City Square. In fact the guy from UNUM said he has had several conversations with Young Park from Berkley.
Jordan mentioned that he had spoken with City Manager O’Brien earlier in the day and said this was City Square’s chance to step up to the plate and make a deal happen with UNUM to jump start the project. I got the feeling that Jordan was hinting this was the city’s intent.
The gentlemen from UNUM (I wish I could recall his name) went on to say that they have an aggressive timetable to announce the decision and actually move their operations. A decision will be announced by December at the latest and they would like to move into their new facilities within 2 years from that date.
IMHO, City Square is on the move with UNUM!
Dave Z:
Hope you are right.
Just do not see it happening and this would not be any fault of the city, Mr Park or anyone else.
I see this really as part of an overall exit strategy. If they are actually committed to staying and have some "moderate growth" then you may actually be right.
The thing that I simply do not understand is how can a building not be condusive to doing business in this day and age. How hard can it be to modernize a building you own versus spending money to move.
I see them moving to the boros leasing space and downsizing every year as time moves forward. Again hope I am wrong and you are right.
Bill
Bill, again I disagree with your thoughts about UNUM using this as an exit strategy from the city. I did not have that feeling at all from listening to Jordan's show yesterday. BTW, today's Levy Line is about the UNUM's proposed move.
As for renovating their present facilities vs. a new building; are you forgetting that some of the space they occupy is the former Commerce High? In fact some of their existing space is approaching the 100 year old mark. When you’re in space that is that old and has much more square feet than what you need, new is a smart strategy vs. an expensive renovation.
Dave:
Again I hope you are right.
I know a little about property mgmt. Keep in mind that they own this property. If it is out of date for them, it is out of date for someone else.
Keep in mind that they said the same thing when they bought Paul Revere. Remember the meeting at Mechanics Hall and they told everyone that their jobs were safe. Workforce has been cut in half.
Not many companies say we are downsizing and we are out of here. Who would want to work there? My bet is that they are gone.
Lets hope you are right.
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