Hey, have you guys heard about this tech talent crunch? Google has, and Mashable reports that lest they lose access to the cream of the crop, the company is swanking up its New York City outpost.
New amenities include a renovated cafeteria featuring “a lounge area and softer seating for employees to hold meetings and relax during lunch,” plus extended hours. Now employees will never, ever need to leave. Ever. Read More
Tech companies are, once again, scouting for space. The New York Post reports that Facebook, IBM, and Amazon are all on the prowl in Flatiron, Chelsea and Meatpacking. Perhaps Facebook has decided that, access to advertisers notwithstanding, Midtown just isn’t hip enough? Read More
Google’s property taxes on its massive $1.8 billion office in Chelsea are about to go up by 17 percent, reports the Wall Street Journal, because the neighborhood’s commercial value has increased as a whole. Ironically, Chelsea’s commercial scene is hoppin’ in large part due to–Google. “Google’s purchase has helped in transforming what had been something of a commercial backwater in Chelsea into a hot zone, boosting the value of the building,” the Journal writes. The value of the building has more than doubled since Google first leased space there in 2006. Google has the right to challenge the assessment. A company spokesman declined to comment to the paper, but we bet someone will be getting a call. “Mike, this is Larry. Wtf.”
