Douglas Wagner, director of brokerage services, at Bond New York, a real estate company in midtown New York, New York, on September 17, 2020. Many businesses in Midtown remain empty during work from home directives, and subway turnstile swipes at nearby Rockefeller center were 8,032 on June 22 this year, compared to 62,312 last year – an 87% decrease. The ecosystem of stores and restaurants in the area that served midtown workers has gone dark.
Bond, which has a 160 person capacity office, is allowing 15-20 essential personnel into the space daily. Meetings are conducted through glass office windows, and only one agent is allowed in each row of desks, and in person meetings are held in socially distanced large meeting rooms. Bond handles sales, and also rentals for tenants, ÒThereÕs a silver lining to all this,Ó said Brian Hourigan, a managing director, ÒNew YorkerÕs can afford to make upgrades, get more space, better services. WeÕre happy that people have a chance to find better housing.Ó
As economic fears grip New York and beyond, and budgets are cut, businesses and residents are becoming somewhat vocal. Recently, an open letter from 163 powerful business leaders was published criticizing Mayor de BlasioÕs leadership and painting a bleak picture of a city in ruin.
Since March, New York City has been through various stages of coping with the Coronavirus pandemic, and in the past month, weak spots of society here have become exposed including homelessness, inequality and education. (Photo by Ashley Gilbertson / VII Photo)
