Relocating back to downtown...

Syracuse, N.Y. is similiar to Dayton, OH in that it suffers from the "sprawl-without-population-growth" phenomenon.  Fortunately for them, there are progressive businesses that understand the importance of the center city, and one major company has decided to reverse the suburban trend by moving from a suburban office park that it built in 1989 BACK to the heart of downtown Syracuse.

The Post-Standard
By Charley Hannagan
Link: O'Brien & Gere Plans Move.

The O'Brien & Gere Cos. plans to move its headquarters from the suburban office park it developed 17 years ago to a new, environmentally friendly building in the heart of Syracuse's downtown.... ... O'Brien & Gere has made its mark in environmental engineering and had considered redeveloping property along Onondaga Lake for its new headquarters, said its Chief Executive Officer Terry Brown.

However, "when you're thinking about how important center city is to this community, O'Brien & Gere would have more of an impact on all of Central New York's economy by being in center city," he said.

"It ties in so well with everything that the university's been doing and the downtown initiatives that have been talking place," said Michael P. Falcone, Pioneer's chief executive, referring to Syracuse University.

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[Billy@MostMetro.com]

And yes folks - this is happening in our very own Dayton Ohio:
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A design company from Kettering has opened shop in downtown Dayton.

Selke Design, a 31-year-old company, moved its eight workers into the Firefly Building last weekend.

Bob Selke, president of the company, said it wanted to move downtown to be in a more creative atmosphere.

"We hope the location and the creative feel about it will help us get some new business," Selke said.

The company, with annual revenue of $2 million, left the Point West Building on the corner of Dorothy Lane and South Dixie Drive in Kettering, where it had been for 12 years.

"We are excited to begin down here in this area," Selke said. "It's a great location."

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/12/04/daily11.html?surround=lfn
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