A new coworking space soon will come online in Lafayette.

Scott Otis and two partners in the fall plan to open  Basecamp Coworking at The District in Lafayette, 400 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 2400. 

Otis and his partners recently leased about 8,400 square feet in the complex, said Christian Smith, principal and broker associate,  The Colorado Group, Inc. 

The District, which is owned by the Flatirons Community Church, houses, among other businesses, Otis Coffee and Front Range Brewing Co., Smith said.

Earlier this year, WeWork, a global provider of shared work spaces, announced its plan to later this year  make available about 500 desks at 2755 Canyon Blvd. in Boulder.

“We saw a need for flexible business office space in Lafayette,”said Otis, also managing broker and owner of  Zeal Real Estate.

Confluence is the only other coworking space in town, Otis said. 

Basecamp will offer desks and private offices, and aims to attract small business owners and remote workers, primarily from Lafayette, Louisville and surrounding communities, Otis said.

Otis highlighted the location as a prime selling point for potential users. The average coworking space is about 20,000 square feet, he said. By those standards, “we are pretty small,” he said. But Basecamp fits perfectly in The District, he said. Otis plans to use social media to market the coworking space.

Tom Hardie,who co-owns Confluence with his wife, Kristin, welcomes the competition. 

“We are confident, because what we offer is unique,” Hardie said.

The growth of independent business professionals, small business owners and those working from home has created conditions favorable for the growth of coworking spaces, said Hardie, who started the business in a 750-square-foot space on South Public Road in 2014, and expanded at the same location in 2015. “We outgrew that space, too.” 

In January 2018, Hardie moved Confluence to 75 Waneka Parkway. The two-story building, which he owns, is about 8,000 square feet. 

The hardest part of developing the business was “making people aware of the resource,” he said. In 2014, coworking was a brand new concept in Lafayette, he said.

Confluence has 85 members, who represent a broad spectrum of industries and professions. “Our members share an interest in our sustainability mission.” Confluence, which is located next to Lafayette Park-n-Ride, also offers an EV charging station members can use at discounted prices.

Many of Confluence members have started their own book clubs and have chili cook-offs, Hardie said.”Confluence is a boutique shared office.”

Pratik Joshi: 303-684-5310, pjoshi@dailycamera.com

*Shared via originally published article in The Daily Camera – April 2019