TUCSON, Ariz. — A coworking space in downtown Tucson is closing next month.
Small businesses and remote workers have been able to rent office space at Connect Coworking for the past five years.
Jim Ostrem works remotely as a medical consultant. Instead of working from home, he rents an office space at Connect Coworking.
"This gives me space, I can work away from home," Ostrem said. "I don't have the distractions or interruptions of working at my house."
Ostrem says his office at Connect gives him the opportunity to be downtown and meet different people. The building is located on Fifth Avenue, near Congress Street.
"For me, it's fun because there are a lot of younger people that are working here," Ostrem said. "So it's a chance just to be in with people that are fun to be around."
But after five years of renting individual office spaces, Connect Coworking is closing on June 30.
More than 200 businesses and organizations have been housed in the space over the years, according to the company.
It's an interactive work environment where tenants share conference rooms and office equipment.
Councilmember Steve Kozachik, who represents the downtown area, says the building owners had trouble filling the office spaces. He says they're hoping to continue to use the space as an office after Connect's lease is up, with more permanent tenants.
In the two years Ostrem has been working from Connect, he says what he liked best, was getting to know the other tenants, both professionally,and personally.
"It's been a very interactive and collaborative atmosphere," Ostrem said. "And I think that's the thing I'm going to miss the most. And I hope I can find some place else."
