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Tech entrepreneurs are moving on up...to downtown. They'renot only at the forefront of technology, but also leading big-citydowntown revivals.
New York City has been promoting its Plug `N' Go program forseveral years, luring tech start-ups and established firms intorenovated and wired buildings. Paul Guzyk, founder of InfoHouseInc. (http://www.infohouse.com), ahigh-bandwidth ISP, made the move in 1996. "It's great tobe in the center of it all," says Guzyk, 34. "When weoriginally moved downtown, there were very few Internet companies;now there are hundreds." Guzyk lists the advantages:"Fair rent, fiber optics, flexible office space options, lotsof talent. However, the nightlife sucks."
Chicago, already home to more than 8,000 tech businesses, hasbeen eyeing New York City's success. Mayor Richard Daleyannounced Chicago's own Technology Initiative last year. Acornerstone of his plan to make Chicago "a high-tech capitalin the 21st century" is to renovate the historic LyttonBuilding and integrate it into the Chicago Information TechnologyExchange (CITe).
The CITe calls for a high-bandwidth fiber optic backbone, anuninterruptible power supply backup generator, videoconferencingsystem, business satellite TV service, a coffeehouse and more.Chicago expects it to rival New York's success.
