n Creating the SF of the Future

Creating the San Francisco of the Future

by David Harrison, BOMA SF Manager of Government and Public Affairs The last year challenged our industry, and BOMA’s members have stepped up to the plate. Our members have remained steadfast in our commitment to our tenants, employees and the public. The vast majority of buildings have never closed, and property owners and managers have continued operations during uncertain times to maintain safe buildings and assure the continuance of essential services. The light at the end of the tunnel is now getting brighter, and we must turn our focus to downtown San Francisco’s recovery. As the City progresses towards “normalcy,” engagement from BOMA and our members is more important than ever. City leaders are facing many make-or-break decisions that will shape the future of our city. BOMA is working hard to strengthen relationships with city officials and provide pertinent political and policy analysis, ensuring that our members have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made. Below is a roundup of issues we are watching.

Public Health

As we adjust to a new normal with vaccines, we also recognize the unknowns presented by the virus. We have learned that people must not only be safe within our buildings, but feel safe too. BOMA is closely tracking public health guidelines and legislation such as mandatory sanitation practices and interim ventilation practices to ensure that any requirements enforced for public health purposes aren’t accompanied by cumbersome economic and environmental burdens on buildings’ owners, management and tenants. Although we’ll continue promoting safety, we must ensure that any requirements effectively advance public health priorities and that the cost of such requirements don’t outweigh the benefits. Street Conditions

San Francisco is a city that leads with compassion, but a robust downtown recovery requires that building management and tenants feel safe going back to work. BOMA is working to support practical, sustainable solutions that address crime, safety and homelessness with both compassion and accountability. Transportation

The ability and willingness to commute will be a top factor that determines the future of downtown. BOMA is advocating for sensible policies that expand our goals of clean, reliable and safe public transit while advocating against proposals such as the SFCTA’s (San Francisco County Transportation Authority) congestion pricing plan that would disincentivize business downtown. Maintaining a Workable Business Climate

in San Francisco has done that and then some! BOMA SF is making the case that for San Francisco to recover, the costs of doing business in this City cannot increase any higher than they already are. We’re also pushing the City to partner with the business community to keep companies that may be reducing their footprint in the City.

Stay tuned for more government affairs updates, and feel free to reach David Harrison, Manager of Government and Public Affairs, at davidh@boma.com.

BOMA SF Members Advance to International TOBY Competition

Congratulations to these three San Francisco winners of the BOMA Bay Area TOBY awards, who advanced to become Regional TOBY Winners in the Pacific Southwest region: 333 Bush Street | Tishman Speyer 500,000 – 1 million Sq. Ft. category 100 First Street | Kilroy Realty 250,000 – 499,999 Sq. Ft. category The Exchange at Larkspur Landing | Jamestown Urban Management/Jamestown, LP Office Park (Low-Rise) category All three of our winners now advance to the International TOBY competition. The TOBY International winners will be announced during the TOBY gala at the annual BOMA International Conference in October.

Best of luck to these outstanding building teams!

BOMA Emerging

EMERGING SAN FRANCISCO Professionals PROFESSIONALS Corner

Programs and networking opportunities for BOMA Emerging Professionals (EPs) are going strong, with a number of fun and educational events in the works, including a Career Success Workshop on Tenant Improvements, sponsored by Peacock Construction.

Recently, EP launched an educational series called “Real Estate Talk.” The first talk with Tom and Nancy Gille of REAL Systems discussed “How to Be Successful in Commercial Real Estate.” The Gilles shared important tips for climbing the CRE ladder. Thanks to Urban Waterproofing for sponsoring.

A BOMA Games event is planned for June 3, with at-home mini games with everyday household items.

Emerging Professionals Committee is for members with 0-7 years of industry experience. To learn more, email agardner@peacockconstruction.com or visit www.bomasf.org (under “Get Involved”).

CREATE Fellows Secure Jobs with Local CRE Employers

This spring seven CREATE Fellows who also participated in the Mentor Matchup—a program managed by BOMA SF’s Careers Committee that matches students with industry mentors—secured full-time employment with local CRE employers. Hiring companies include Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE and Rockhill Management.

Free Job & Internship Posting Portal at www.createworkforce.org

CREATE hosts a free job and internship portal at www.createworkforce.org. Employers can post both entry-level positions and internships free of charge and view résumés. CREATE Fellows alumni, current Fellows and interested students outside SFSU and Merritt College are encouraged to upload their résumés.

We encourage employers to host an intern, this summer or during the school year. It is a great way to test talent and perhaps tap into a future hire. Check out the Internship Host Guidelines provided which give an overview of how to successfully structure this learning experience.

The Commercial Real Estate Alliance for Tomorrow’s Employees (CREATE) is a collaborative effort by leading commercial real estate companies and service firms to address the industry’s growing workforce challenges throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. CREATE identifies, educates, and recruits talent for commercial real estate so that employers have a diverse pipeline of job-ready candidates for their entry-level positions.

At the core of this effort are the training programs CREATE underwrites at SF State and Merritt College. CREATE provides funding and support for college-level instruction, job shadowing and internship opportunities relevant to employers, to meet the hiring needs of building owners, investors, operators, and service firms.