3 ms·

I am not sure that a company can retain control of the town once a lot of employees start living there. The employees would control the government on the next

I am not sure that a company can retain control of the town once a lot of employees start living there. The employees would control the government on the next election and start collecting tax from the company. This is probably one of the main reasons disney doesn't allow general employees to live in its company town next to Orlando. But universities run a nice little business with student dorms and graduate student housing. I don't see why companies can't build apartments...

williamscales 10y ago
In fact, I'm pretty sure that building apartments to rent to employees was part of Google's most recent proposal to the Mountain View city council.
- raywu 10y ago
  Google's proposal (2015) for the new campus did not include housing: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/google-unveils-plan-for-new-corporate-campus/?_r=0 http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/google-unveils-plan... >>> One big issue is still outstanding: Google’s proposal does not include new housing for the area, but company executives have said on several occasions that they want to add housing near their campus. More recent article points to 9000 units proposed by anther company: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/01/13/sobrato-kick-starts-residential-in-mountain-views.html http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/01/13/sobrato-k... >>> Sobrato’s proposal — which is still in early form and could yet change — is the first application for a project that includes housing in North Bayshore, but others could follow. The council has identified roughly a half-dozens sites where housing is being studied, and has laid the groundwork for up to 9,000 new units. Most of those potential housing sites are owned by Google, which has publicly stated its interest in redeveloping at least some of them for housing, though it has not moved forward on any plans.
  - williamscales 10y ago
    Thanks I wasn't finding this when I was looking.
mcguire 10y ago
Whence comes this "election" thing you mention? The point of a company town is that the company actually owns the town.

williamscales 10y ago

In fact, I'm pretty sure that building apartments to rent to employees was part of Google's most recent proposal to the Mountain View city council.

raywu 10y ago
Google's proposal (2015) for the new campus did not include housing: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/google-unveils-plan-for-new-corporate-campus/?_r=0 http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/google-unveils-plan... >>> One big issue is still outstanding: Google’s proposal does not include new housing for the area, but company executives have said on several occasions that they want to add housing near their campus. More recent article points to 9000 units proposed by anther company: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/01/13/sobrato-kick-starts-residential-in-mountain-views.html http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2016/01/13/sobrato-k... >>> Sobrato’s proposal — which is still in early form and could yet change — is the first application for a project that includes housing in North Bayshore, but others could follow. The council has identified roughly a half-dozens sites where housing is being studied, and has laid the groundwork for up to 9,000 new units. Most of those potential housing sites are owned by Google, which has publicly stated its interest in redeveloping at least some of them for housing, though it has not moved forward on any plans.
- williamscales 10y ago
  Thanks I wasn't finding this when I was looking.

mcguire 10y ago

Whence comes this "election" thing you mention? The point of a company town is that the company actually owns the town.