SAN DIEGO—Companies are moving from the suburbs to offices in Downtown San Diego, EMMES Realty Services of California's customer-service manager Christine Takara tells GlobeSt.com. What's more, urban office-building amenities like modern gyms, restaurants and other retail stores can contribute not only to that building's tenants, but to residents, employees and visitors to the Downtown market. As a representative of the second-largest commercial-office landlord in Downtown San Diego, next to the Irvine Co., Takara tells us exclusively what her firm has seen in this “urban migration” and why innovation-based companies are drawn to Downtown and the firm's 707 Broadway building.

GlobeSt.com: Are companies other than small start-ups moving from the suburbs to Downtown San Diego?

Takara: Mostly younger companies are attracted to the amenities—that's what we've seen. For example, CPC Strategy, a retail search solutions company, has grown over the past three years. They moved Downtown from Mission Valley, and they now occupy the top two full floors at 707 Broadway. So these are not just tiny, blossoming companies—they've been around for a few years and have outgrown their space. CPC was tired of Mission Valley, where there are limited places to walk and eat. They're recruiting kids out of college, so they want to be somewhere attractive. Downtown has the ball park, bars, restaurants and gathering places—plus the residential market. While people are moving Downtown to live, they also want to work there.