W alk into any local Starbucks or Panera Bread, and you’re bound to see some folks hunched over laptops, phone in hand, attempting to do business while the high-pitched whine of the nearby blender mixes up somebody’s Frappuccino. This is a reality for many freelancers, contract employees and telecommuters who, for any number of reasons, choose not to work out of the home.
At the Lincoln Building Offices, workers can rent a desk for a monthly fee, and be able to work in an open-office environment in a downtown location.
“We’re looking for affordable office space for folks,” said Bill Moore, who owns the Lincoln Building on Maine Street.
Seth Jacobs, who manages the offices with Moore, broached the idea of a “co-working habitat.”
Jacobs and Moore describe the offices as an “open co-working concept … ideal for small teams and individuals looking for a professional work environment.”
The two are looking for tenants that include entrepreneurs, freelancers, nonprofits, innovators and creative business and civic professionals. Many of these people are working from home, or are telecommuting from libraries, coffee shops, fastfood chains, or any other place with available wifi.
The concept is not dissimilar from TechPlace, a planned technology hub at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, that would give entrepreneurs access to conference rooms, individual offices, and shop spaces for individuals and small companies to develop new products, as well as spaces for larger businesses.
The Lincoln Building Offices, however, are on a smaller, and far less-industrial, scale.
Other offices in the building range from $400 to $900 a month. Not everyone can afford those rates, even on the low end.
Rent at Lincoln Building Offices is $225 a month. What you get is a desk, wifi access and mail service, in addition to a shared conference room, printer and scanner, coffee maker and microwave.
Conference rooms are available for an hourly rate for non-tenants.
“Someone could run an entire business out of one of these stations,” said Jacobs.
Entrances are secured, said Jacobs, which allows workers to leave belongings after hours.
About 20 desks are available.
The space was constructed in 1889 to house the local Masons Lodge. The main room takes up about 1,650 square feet.
“I bought the building five or six years ago. This room hasn’t been used since the ’40s. This tin ceiling — which is beautiful — was practically on the floor when I bought the building. The plaster was all on the floor, and no one had any initiative to do anything in here,” said Moore.
They completely renovated it in 2013, and Moore said he has invested about $35,000 in renovations.
“We just gutted it. With the exception of the ceiling, everything’s new,” said Moore.
Moore said he looked for tenants, including companies that wanted to operate call centers, but couldn’t find any takers.
“We couldn’t get a tenant in here,” said Moore. “It’s just a big open room that was tough to market.”
The offices are located in the Lincoln Building on Maine Street in downtown Brunswick. It’s hoped that the building’s location will be a draw for tenants.
“Our goal is to get multiple types of entrepreneurs, telecommuters, that are maybe being sick of being penned in their house all day long and want to be in the thriving area of downtown Brunswick,” said Jacobs.
The mix of professions envisioned at the Lincoln Building Offices could allow for the co-mingling of ideas and resources. “A moving networking group” is how Jacobs described it.
“Ultimately, we want it to be as diverse as possible,” said Jacobs.
“The downtown environment, I think, is where a lot of people want to work,” said Moore. “We’ve got all the restaurants right below your feet and right next door.”
For more information, call Bill Moore at (207) 721- 2540 or Seth Jacobs at (207) 831-1903, or go to www.lincolnbuildingoffices.com.
RENT AT LINCOLN BUILDING OFFICES is $225 a month. What you get is a desk, wifi access and mail service, in addition to a shared conference room, printer and scanner, coffee maker and microwave.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on the Lincoln Building Offices in Brunswick, call Bill Moore at (207) 721-2540 or Seth Jacobs at (207) 831-1903, or go to www.lincolnbuildingoffices.com.
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