Search giant Google might have the right idea when it comes to capturing its workers close to home with its most recent big idea: Googletown. "Googletown" will likely not be the established name (Gawker came up with that), but whatever Google calls their new Google city, it will surely keep their engineers and other valued workers close at hand.
The tradition of Googletown
As the San Jose Mercury News accurately points out, the concept of Googletown (or "Google city") is not a new idea. The concept of a "company town" has been around for daces across the planet. One of the first within the United States was built to accommodate employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company through the 1880s. Childcare, housing, gourmet shops, restaurants and sporting facilities are just some of the things Googletown would offer similar to that of Pullman, Chicago according to Gawker.
Pyramids: the inspiration
"The equivalent of more than two TransAmerica Pyramids," is how Gawker describes the Google concept. The site can be near NASA Ames/Moffett Field in Silicon Valley. Ames Field will contain 180,000 square feet of housing on the 42 acre development. Separate plans for more housing and retail in Google’s home base of Mountain View, Calif., are also under consideration, although that would require a change in zoning laws to permit additional housing and retail. Although the Mountain View venture doesn't have a contractor yet, Ames field does and it can be Planetary Ventures.
Keeping employees on the farm
No matter what the weather condition or the price of gas, to numerous employees in the United States have to live great distances from work and make huge commutes. Google employees could be easily accessible by living close, and won't have to pay huge transportation costs. Google already pays their employees millions in retention bonuses and it only makes sense for the company to stay closer to their work.
Articles cited
Gawker
gawker.com/5690618/google-is-assembling-a-city
Mercury News
mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16586782?nclick_check=1&forced=true
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_town
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