4 minute read
n BOMA SF Turns 110
This year marks the 110th anniversary of BOMA’s founding in 1911. For more than a century,
BOMA has been helping our members safely navigate all sorts of adversities. Shown below is an ad from States Restaurant from 1918/1919, touting its flu precautions and masked employees. The restaurant was on the ground floor of the Pacific Building at the same time that BOMA had opened its offices in the building. So, during the Spanish Flu Epidemic, the staff of BOMA had a safe place to eat while continuing its work.
BOMA San Francisco... helping our members stay safe for 110 years!
A man in San Francisco poses for a photograph while wearing an influenza mask during the 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic. Credit: OpenSFHistory/wnp26.1205.jpg
About BOMA VIEWS
BOMA Views is published quarterly by BOMA San Francisco
Associate Publisher: Tory Brubaker Editor: Henry Eason Managing Editor/Ad Director: Ellen Eason, Eason Communications LLC
For advertising information, contact Ellen Eason at 415.596.9466 or ellen@easoncom.com
Copyright ©2021 BOMA San Francisco. The publisher assumes no liability for opinions expressed in editorial contributions to the publication or third-party quotations within articles. The publication is not responsible for claims in advertising. Printed in the U.S.A.
In Memoriam
The BOMA SF community was sorry to learn that a beloved member of the ABM family passed away. Charles “Charlie” Booth was a key figure in the development and success of the ABM Engineering/Facilities Services business line. He set the foundation for engineering services and paved the way for many to follow. In recent years, which Charlie would jokingly call his “semi-retirement years,” he served as a consultant/mentor to ABM and its district managers. Using his experience and established relationships with the Local 39 Union, engineers and customers alike, he continued to support and promote the success of ABM.
233 Sansome Street, 8th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104-2134
415.362.8567 www.bomasf.org
Printed on recycled paper.
The Last Word: CRE Pulls Together
by BOMA SF CEO John Bryant
Supervisors’ Land Use and Transportation Committee in a hearing reviewing the economic impact of vacant office buildings in downtown San Francisco. BOMA was one of just two business associations invited to testify alongside City representatives from the Office of the Controller, the Office of Small Business, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Department of Public Health. In my testimony, I reviewed the current trends for San The future for office in downtown San Francisco remains Francisco commercial real estate—including a high vacanstrong, but there is no denying the dramatic impact cy rate with unprecedented levels of sublease space availCOVID-19 has had on the commercial real estate industry. able—while projecting confidence that the industry would Ground-floor vacancies are sadly a common sight through- begin to see a rebound as vaccinations continue to increase out the city, dominated by retail and restaurant business and in-person learning and childcare options resume. closures, with many others struggling to I also highlighted commercial real estate’s stay in business. The simple CRE proposition that buildings are only as profitable as their tenants, remains poignantly truthful today as it ever did. During the pandemic, BOMA “Commercial real estate in San Francisco contributes more than $6 billion annually to California’s economy...” contribution to the economy—specifically that commercial real estate in San Francisco contributes more than $6 billion annually to California’s economy while supporting more than 40,000 jobs. San Francisco worked alongside BOMA I closed by warning the supervisors that Inter-national to produce updated and relevant any further increase to the cost of doing business in San information, ranging from building re-entry procedures Francisco would significantly hinder the recovery. Further, to emergency evacuation guidance, and city and state that legislators will finally need to address quality-of-life health requirements. The combined expertise and concerns such as crime, homelessness, and transportation guidance of our membership have shown effectiveness reliability before a full economic recovery can occur.of our industry, even amidst uncertainty. Those issues existed long before COVID-19 and have held Occupancy rates for offices are starting to increase and back our city’s true potential for years. If we are to see a state and city officials are planning on a full re-opening true recovery, addressing our city’s needs outside of COVID in June, well over a year after our first shutdown. The will be equally important. BOMA will continue to do our increase in vaccine distribution is creating a swell of part and work with our business partners and elected optimism, but for the economy to truly rebound, there leaders to find solutions that will encourage the full are other issues outside of COVID that also need to be economic recovery of our industry, small business, and addressed. the city of San Francisco. As we have shown during COVID, Recently, I was asked to testify in front of the Board of when we work together, we can make a difference.
