WeWork is creating a centralized headquarters, but it has to relocate some of its members to do so.
WeWork had already been using part of its 115 West 18th St. location in Chelsea for its headquarters team, but beginning in November it will bring its remaining central staff in from other locations across the city, including Tower 49 in Midtown, Crain's New York Business reports. In order to do so, it must take over co-working space being used by around 500 members, and has given them until the end of the month to find a new spot.
To ease the transition, WeWork said it is offering discounts and individual tours to help members choose a new location. Although Crain's notes that the move has caused consternation among some members who are forced to relocate, a WeWork spokesperson claims the majority of Chelsea members are happy to take the deals offered and have been impressed by the tours they have been given.
"For most of 2017, WeWork HQ employees have been operating across multiple locations in New York, and this move will put the company under one roof," the spokesperson wrote in an email. "We are working closely with Chelsea members to support them through their relocation and handle any unique circumstances to ensure a seamless and consistent service."
Two of the closest WeWork locations for relocating members are in the Meatpacking District and Gramercy. Whereas Chelsea offered dedicated desks without a private office, neither of the others offer any tier of membership below private offices. A one-desk private office in Chelsea cost $1K per month, the same cost as the Meatpacking location. Gramercy's one-desk private offices cost $850 per month.
WeWork's headquarters consolidation comes in the wake of some aggressive expansion moves, such as offering a year of free rent for those switching services and rumored corporate espionage at Knotel locations.
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