While many return-to-work dates were pushed back in the wake of the Omicron variant earlier this winter, there is very much an air of “we mean it this time” in new announcements. Indeed, for all Mayor Adams’ campaign talk of rezoning central business districts and converting empty offices to affordable housing, he has emerged as a critic of remote work, saying, “That’s not who we are as a city. You need to be out, cross-pollinating ideas, interacting with humans.”
There is little question that “the great work-from-home experiment,” as Forbes called the pandemic early on, has altered the cityscape. Stores and restaurants in central business districts have experienced significant drops in income, and available Manhattan office space has jumped to 17.4 percent in February 2022, which Crain’s New York Business notes is a record for the city’s commercial real estate market.
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Some are eager to heed Mayor Adams' call to get back to the creative and socialization opportunities the office environment brings. Others are nervous about returning to a crowded office, but many workplaces are poised to assuage fears. Buildings are undergoing upgrades like enhanced HVAC systems, temperature and body scanners, and contact-free technology. Plexiglass dividers between desks that some envisioned at the height of the pandemic may not be around forever, but recent construction shows that outdoor space is an in-demand amenity and here to stay.
Even with all the office improvements, remote work is likely here to stay to some degree. A Gallup State of the American Workplace study conducted pre-pandemic found that 43 percent of all employees were working remotely to some degree; when one considers that a hallmark of the Great Resignation is people leaving corporate jobs to do freelance work, those numbers are likely to go up. Additionally, some firms have instituted flexible work-from-home policies that only require people to go to the office for a few days of the week.
For those who will maintain the flexibility of working remotely, the best of both worlds may be found in buildings that provide comfortable communal workspaces outside of their apartments. Residents of the following buildings benefit from amenity spaces that offer ample workstations, plush furnishings, and inspiring views an elevator ride or stair climb from their apartments.
For those who will maintain the flexibility of working remotely, the best of both worlds may be found in buildings that provide comfortable communal workspaces outside of their apartments. Residents of the following buildings benefit from amenity spaces that offer ample workstations, plush furnishings, and inspiring views an elevator ride or stair climb from their apartments.
5 studio through two-beds from $4,608 - $8,043/month
1.5 months free rent
7 Dey Street (SL Green)
7 Dey Street is located in the heart of the Financial District, allowing for easy access to the offices that largely characterized the area for years. However, the building is well equipped to support those who work from home - the sixth floor is home to a sunny co-working space with oversized windows and a boardroom with luxury furnishings.
18 Sixth Avenue
8 studio through two-beds from $2,975 - $7,350/month
Brooklyn Crossing (Brodsky Organization)
The 51-story Brooklyn Crossing is the tallest tower in the Pacific Park development, and contains 810 units and 26,000 square feet of residential amenities. Among them is a sixth-floor coworking space with flexible seating areas and a separate conference room.
420 Kent Avenue (Credit: Albert Vecerka)
The ODA-designed Williamsburg rental offers the very best in amenities. For remote workers, 420 Kent features a lobby coffee bar, a co-working lounge, indoor and outdoor seating, and a library/quiet room, which is a no-cell-phone space meant for you to decompress and reconnect. When you want to take a break, head on over to the billiards and gaming lounge, the piano room, or the catering kitchen. A 24/7 concierge is also on hand.
225 East 39th Street
16 studio through three-beds from $4,527 - $11,000/month
HOUSE39 (Rose Associates)
With a coffee bar, library, and workstations at HOUSE39, you'll never want to head back into the office. Your work-life balance will also be achieved with their other amenities, which include plenty of outdoor spaces with gorgeous city views and the convenience of a 24/7 concierge.
675 West 59th Street
17 one- through three-beds from $6,071 - $23,250/month
3 months free rent on a 12-month lease
Waterline Square
Residents of Waterline Square's rentals have access to The Waterline Club, over 100,000 square feet of amenities catering to all interests and, so it would seem, industries. These include a business center, a social hub with work stations, and art, music, and video/photography studios for creative workers.
160 West 24th Street
18 studio through two-beds from $4,378 - $8,596/month
The Chelsea (Greystar)
The Chelsea offers hotel-inspired spaces perfect for working from home, and an in-building espresso bar is on hand to fuel the workday. Amenities include an outdoor terrace lounge, a resident lounge complete with complimentary WiFi, workstations, and a flat-screen television, and Hello Alfred, a personal assistant app that does everything you need – from groceries to pet care – with the help of a trusted home manager.
28-10 - 28-40 Jackson Avenue
8 one- through two-beds from $3,621 - $6,598/month
Jackson Park (Tishman Speyer)
An amenity haven, Jackson Park is truly its own community in Long Island City with a private 1.6-acre park, a bocce court, tech lounge, private dining room, private conference room, sky lounge, 24/7 concierge, LIVunLtd virtual concierge, and of course, building-wide WiFi.
29-22 Northern Boulevard
15 studio through two-beds from $2,786 - $6,747/month
Rent concession
Alta LIC (Simon Baron Development)
The Alta+ Cube second-floor amenity space is specifically tailored to your needs with several co-working spaces, an event space with Sonos Sound System and a massive screen, and a game hall with billiards.
435 West 31st Street
3 studio through one-beds from $3,895 - $5,250/month
Rent concession and $1,000 security deposit
The Eugene (Manhattan West)
NYC's tallest rental skyscraper has a ton of spaces for play, including a basketball court, arcade room, and piano lounge, but it's also fit for working. The Eugene has a sophisticated library lounge and a private dining room. LIVunLtd concierge is available to take care of nearly everything you may need for your home.
50 West 34th Street
2 one-beds from $4,200 - $5,200/month
Herald Towers lounge (Herald Towers Leasing)
When Jackie Robinson lived at the McAlpin Hotel, he got the call to play on the Brooklyn Dodgers. The historic building has been converted to rentals known as Herald Towers, but a new amenities suite reflects the needs and wishes of today's residents. This includes a new lounge with co-working space. An offer of $1,000 security deposits is currently in effect.
615 Pavonia Avenue
2 two-beds from $3,935 - $4,005/month
Journal Squared via KRE Group
A towering presence in Jersey City, Journal Squared features a 10,000-square-foot lounge set up with WiFi and workstations with NYC skyline views. It is notably the first New Jersey building to offer the hospitality service Hello Alfred. Additional amenities include a catering kitchen, screening room, and a sky lounge on the 53rd floor. Virtual tours are available for this building.
2 North 6th Place
1 one-bed for $4,710/month
Level via Douglaston Development
LEVEL is a beautiful waterfront building in Williamsburg offering a furnished roof deck, a 24-hour concierge, a business center with video conferencing and workstations, and free WiFi in all common spaces. Virtual showings are available for this building.
Brodsky Organization
(212) 315-XXXX
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