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Sounds like the underlying question behind the “and?” is, why is this news on HN? As has been stated, this happens, it’s what bankruptcy is for, and is not all

Sounds like the underlying question behind the “and?” is, why is this news on HN? As has been stated, this happens, it’s what bankruptcy is for, and is not all that shocking or worth particular notice here.

bleuedejapan 6y ago
Considering that there will be a huge amount of unused, cheap real estate, and that only tech companies seem to be holding off the crisis, it is pretty much relevant - real estate will be a huge opportunity for tech.
- jtbayly 6y ago
  Opportunity for what? Given the increase in WFH, tech companies are also using less real estate.
  - jldugger 6y ago
    Opportunity for more datacenters? A lot of datacenters are built inside abandoned warehouses and other buildings: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/recycled-buildings/ https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/recycled-buil... These places tend to be connected to useful infrastructure like rail lines, and at least in the US, the internet kinda borrowed rail's right of way to lay fiber. Not sure how well connected malls are; they tend to be near highways so it might have a similar advantage?
  - bleuedejapan 6y ago
    Tech enabled homes, for example. Converting malls into homes, and managing building complexes using a tech stack... If you really can't figure out one single use for cheap empty space, man, you need take a step back and just play around with your imagination a bit :)
    - jtbayly 6y ago
      I can think of plenty of uses of empty space. Housing is just one of them. What I didn't come up with was any need that tech companies might have. (I hadn't thought of datacenter, which another commenter mentioned, but I doubt the space opening up will be particularly useful for that.) Regardless, I've not heard of any tech companies needing huge amounts more space recently. Starting a new housing company to use this space might make sense, but I doubt any of the tech companies have any desire to become housing companies. I guess I could be wrong. If they do, I'll be removing any investments I might have with them, though.

bleuedejapan 6y ago

Considering that there will be a huge amount of unused, cheap real estate, and that only tech companies seem to be holding off the crisis, it is pretty much relevant - real estate will be a huge opportunity for tech.

jtbayly 6y ago
Opportunity for what? Given the increase in WFH, tech companies are also using less real estate.
- jldugger 6y ago
  Opportunity for more datacenters? A lot of datacenters are built inside abandoned warehouses and other buildings: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/recycled-buildings/ https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/recycled-buil... These places tend to be connected to useful infrastructure like rail lines, and at least in the US, the internet kinda borrowed rail's right of way to lay fiber. Not sure how well connected malls are; they tend to be near highways so it might have a similar advantage?
- bleuedejapan 6y ago
  Tech enabled homes, for example. Converting malls into homes, and managing building complexes using a tech stack... If you really can't figure out one single use for cheap empty space, man, you need take a step back and just play around with your imagination a bit :)
  - jtbayly 6y ago
    I can think of plenty of uses of empty space. Housing is just one of them. What I didn't come up with was any need that tech companies might have. (I hadn't thought of datacenter, which another commenter mentioned, but I doubt the space opening up will be particularly useful for that.) Regardless, I've not heard of any tech companies needing huge amounts more space recently. Starting a new housing company to use this space might make sense, but I doubt any of the tech companies have any desire to become housing companies. I guess I could be wrong. If they do, I'll be removing any investments I might have with them, though.