A calming commute, convenient parking for clients and the distinctive urban vibe are some of the reasons Keith Fairchild likes operating his business Downtown.
Fairchild started his staffing agency, TRC Professional Solutions, 26 years ago in an office park in Baymeadows.
After almost 20 years of writing a check each month for rent, he decided it was time to own his office space. When his Southside landlord wouldn’t sell, Fairchild started looking around and discovered Downtown.
He relocated the business in 2008 to 200 W. Forsyth St., on the northeast corner of the BB&T Building. One of the deciding factors was convenient parking.
“There is a parking lot adjacent to the building. I lease spaces for clients to use, so they don’t have to walk any farther from their car to my office than they did when we were in Baymeadows,” said Fairchild.
His office has a view of the Northbank skyline, including the St. Johns River, Bank of America Tower, Wells Fargo Center and SunTrust Tower. From the windows in the reception area, Fairchild and his staff watched the construction of the Duval County Courthouse from the first day a grader was dropped off at the site.
When he first floated the idea of moving to his staff, they weren’t so keen on Downtown. But by the time they packed up and set out for the new space, that attitude had changed. Since the move, Fairchild said he and his staff have gained an appreciation for the urban core vibe.
“It’s great to have so many places to get lunch within walking distance. The staff has their friends gather here at the office and then they all go out to Art Walk,’ he said.
Even the 35-minute commute between his Downtown office and his home in Mandarin, about twice as long as it took to get back-and-forth at the previous office, has turned out to be an asset.
“It’s my quiet time for the day,” said Fairchild.
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