Selective Amnesia

Two years ago, if you braved taking the subway and got out at Union Square Station, you'd have walked much quicker because you didn't feel safe. You faced invisible threats from COVID-19, and you faced visible threats from weirdos. NY was gloomy. Our faces were masked, and our guards were up. We carried that NY attitude. You know, the one - where you don't make eye contact, and your energy shouts, "Don't fuck with me."?

But now things feel different. Some of it has to do with the weather, but many other factors have made being out on the street an awesome experience. We still don't make too much eye contact on the streets, but the masks are gone, and our guards have dropped from Defcon 10 to Amber Alert. There are still weirdos, but they seem more endearing and less life-threatening.?

Whatever Mayor Adams has or hasn't been doing, things are much better.?

In the subways, you still might get flashed, but there are fewer homeless people, addicts, human poop, and overall craziness. I'm not quite sure where all that went, but it's out of plain sight.?

On the streets, few people are wearing masks, ?and our guards are down to amber alert.?

Walking through Grand Central or Penn Station is no longer icky. It's cleaner, safer, and doesn't stink.?

So, everything seems to be back to normal. That is until you walk into an office building.?

Every office building I walk into is still mostly empty—crickets in the lobby and tumbleweed in the halls. The work week is now down to four days, and people are begrudgingly returning to their offices as little as possible. Most are back three days a week. Everyone has selective amnesia. They have forgotten about COVID and crime but remember how good it feels to get more sleep, commute less, and WFH.?

The less time people spend in their offices, the more they are out and about. The less critical offices become, the more important our homes become. Home offices have become a necessity for every home.?

This week, we launched a new project, "Hendrix House - Homes That Work". Every apartment comes with a customized home office, wholly designed and built out. Every studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and PH has an integrated, designated workplace. Now, where we work from home is as important as the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.?

This is today's and tomorrow's home. And it's never felt better.?

Let's do this!?

Shaun