BINGHAMTON — A local businessman has plans to launch a coworking space in downtown Binghamton. CoWork Binghamton, a startup by Shawn O’Hara, provides an office-like setting for creative professionals and entrepreneurs who normally work from their homes or in coffee shops. The 1,800-square-foot space will open in mid-September in the newly renovated Lackawanna […]
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CoWork Binghamton, a startup by Shawn O’Hara, provides an office-like setting for creative professionals and entrepreneurs who normally work from their homes or in coffee shops.
The 1,800-square-foot space will open in mid-September in the newly renovated Lackawanna Train Station, at 45 Lewis St., across from NYSEG Stadium, home of the Binghamton Mets.
While pursuing office space for his interior-design business, O’Hara heard about coworking spaces that allow professionals to come together and collaborate with each other and knew that he wanted to try it.
“It clicked,” says O’Hara.
He began researching how to establish a coworking space. O’Hara’s efforts included a phone conversation with Syracuse Coworks — which provides low-cost, professional office space at the Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse — to gain insight on its concept, successes, and pitfalls.
Once he had the concept down, his next step was finding a location.
“I wanted to be near downtown to take advantage of the energy from the redevelopment of downtown Binghamton,” says O’Hara. “Plus, I love urban environments, being within walking distance of other shops and businesses.”
After following social-media posts, in late May, he saw construction photos of the Lackawanna Train station, and reached out to the owner, Loco Development, LLC, through Twitter to inquire about the availability of rental space.
“First we tweeted, then we phoned. The old-fashioned way,” says Stephanie Blodgett, co-owner of Loco Development, LLC.
O’Hara officially signed the lease on Aug. 1, and the renovation work began a short time later. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of August.
Blodgett bought the former Lackawanna Train Station building in May 2012. The station, which was built in 1900, is designated an historical landmark by the Binghamton Commission on Architecture & Urban Design.
Blodgett considers it “a great historic space” and wanted to continue with the preservation of the facility, she says.
The building is also home to Blodgett’s company, Ad Elements, a local advertising agency.
Of the 13,000-square-foot structure, the main level is full, and Blodgett estimates about 2,500 square feet is left to rent out. Appropriately enough, the Susquehanna Valley Railway Historical Society also occupies a small space in the building.
On board with O’Hara’s plan for a coworking space in the building, Blodgett thought “it was an interesting concept.” It’s also a nice work environment and a cost-efficient way for people to come together in a work space, says Blodgett.
Memberships
The 1,800-square-foot space that CoWork Binghamton occupies on the second level of the building will be able to accommodate roughly 25 to 30 professionals.
Membership levels range from a $10 rate for drop-ins to $225 for monthly reserved spaces. All members will have access to amenities such as high-speed Internet, free copies, and a kitchenette with coffee, tea, and other snacks. Monthly members will also have 24-hour access to the facility.
As of press time, O’Hara says he already has four people confirmed for monthly memberships. He plans on recruiting more through social media, advertising, and word of mouth.
Upstate Office Furniture in Johnson City will supply the furniture for the space. O’Hara plans on using Plexicomm, LLC to provide high-speed Internet service.
Until now, Binghamton has not really had a space for professionals to work and come together, according to O’Hara. The closest coworking facilities include Syracuse CoWorks and the Centerway ExecuCenter in Corning. Other upstate cities that have coworking spaces include Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo.
O’Hara is financing CoWork Binghamton with his own savings, private investments, and Indiegogo, an online crowdfunding platform. Once the space is up and running, O’Hara says he “anticipates the space to pay for itself, and possibly generate a small profit.”
The coworking space will also be home to O’Hara’s interior-design business, Shawn Michael Design. He designed the floor plan for CoWork Binghamton, and with his design center there as well, he’ll be able to show his clients his work first-hand.
His other projects include the office of White Knight Productions and Thailianos restaurant. Both are located in Vestal. O’Hara is currently working on a conference room for WSKG Public Broadcasting in Vestal.
The interior design business and coworks space isn’t O’Hara’s first venture in opening his own business. In the late 1990s, he owned a coffee shop in Utica. To pursue the coworking space and his own design business, O’Hara recently left his position as sales adviser at Warehouse Carpet Outlets in Johnson City.
An open house is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6, to coincide with downtown Binghamton’s monthly First Friday Art Walks. CoWork Binghamton will open on Monday, Sept. 16.