Questions
What Is Citizen Desk?
Citizen Desk is a collaborative coworking facility that provides many of the ad-hoc benefits of the modern Internet-cafe, with the professional working environment and community aspects of a more traditional office. The Citizen Desk environment includes a greeting/lounge area for socializing and ad-hoc collaboration, open plan office for 8-10 desks, and a conference/quiet room for those who wish to work in silence, or just relax and contemplate the universe.
What Is The Story Behind Citizen Desk?
Citizen Desk was conceived of several months ago by Marcus Nelson, a former technology professional and founder of Superstarch design consultancy. Marcus experienced first-hand the huge gaps between the various office options available to entrepreneurs and free-lancers. While working at home sounded great, it proved to be distracting and lacked the professional meeting space and community of traditional offices. On the other side of the spectrum, traditional office space is expensive and required long-term leases. Executive suites met some of his needs, but again demanded a high price point to pay for furniture, expensive phone systems, receptionists and high-end copiers - none of which was relevant to his business or branding. As time unfolded Marcus resorted to Internet-enabled coffee shops to meet his needs - which was acceptable, but a sub-optimal option. Only recently have open source software solutions, telephony offerings, networking solutions and working “norms” enabled the concept’s vision and inevitable launch.
Who Is the Ideal Tenant?
We’re not sure that there is an ideal tenant, as such. We think that the concept will initially appeal to cultural creatives such as designers, writers, architects, developers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, programmers, brand builders, marketing gurus, PR mavens, technologists, artists, media professionals and photographers.
Why Is It Called a Co-op?
While not a co-op in the strictest sense of the word, our vision for Citizen Desk relies heavily on our tenant’s ability to build a cooperative community of like minded individuals for the benefit of the group. Our model for this space mirrors the Open Source software movement in which we will create the framework and initial design for the space, but the tenants will drive the energy and culture on a going-forward basis.
What Amenities Are Being Offered?
We provide secure access via master key, a kitchenette with a small fridge, a coffee machine, weekly cleaning service, a conference room, cool and functional desk areas, 802.11N WiFi, and a chill-out/greeting room with a desk and seating area.
What Amenities Don’t You Offer?
A secretary, a copier (Kinkos does a better job and not far away), a phone system with cheesy hold music, mahogany paneling, a legal library, 80’s faux wood desks, boredom.
How Do I Make Phone Calls?
How do you make calls now? We assume most freelancers/entrepreneurs/road warriors use cell phones and VOIP solutions 90% of the time. We didn’t see much sense in charging everyone for a phone system they don’t really need. With systems like Skype offering call forwarding and voicemail, and other services offering outsourced “big company” menu-driven phone systems - you can look just as big as you feel.
What About A Fax Machine?
To keep our costs down, we had not planned to put a fax machine in the space, but one could be made available through Compass Properties office.
Can I Arrange To Have My Mail Delivered To Citizen Desk?
Absolutely. You will need to reference Citizen Desk, or our suite number in your address (Suite 400) and the building’s mail porter will leave the mail daily to a common inbox on the first floor.In addition, there is a small post office on the first floor should you require a private box.
Where Is Citizen Desk Located?
The initial Citizen Desk location is on the fourth floor of Washington Square, downtown Wausau, adjacent to the ultra-hip Wausau Center Mall.
Initial Location?
Yes, our Washington Square space is the first of what we hope will be many Citizen Desk environments we plan to build out around the city.
What Could My Day Be Like?
Start by riding your bike to work along the Wisconsin River front. Lock it up on the complementary racks downtown and walk over to Allister Deacon’s for a freshly roasted cup of coffee. Say a thankful prayer that you don’t have to try to work out of here any more. Head up to Citizen Desk’s, fire up your laptop, check your email, and compare your weekend antics with other Citizen Tenants. Confirm your 11 o’clock by cell phone — find out that you need to show some live HTML of your concept during the meeting. Ping a few of Citizen Desk’s code monkeys with an emergency request to crank out some shiny demo screens - and get an instant response from Joe, who you designed a logo for just last week. Email your art files to Joe and amble across the street for a late breakfast at The Mint. Back to Citizen Desk to review Joe’s demo - not bad for an hours work. Your client arrives at 11. Loves the office, “A huge improvement over meeting at Starbucks.” Score. Usher her into the conference room - dazzle her with your concept and Joe’s sweet demo screens. Walk her down the back stairs for a killer lunch at Freddy’s. Close the deal. Celebrate by snagging a drink from the new III lounge and enjoy an energizing afternoon listening to music across the street. Then head back to your desk to grind out your final proposal of the day. Satisfied, walk downstairs to the Wausau Center to pick up a few things for your weekend, and then bop down the street to buy some organic yumminess at the Downtown Grocery. Clear your head with a 2 minute walk to meet your friends at the Grand Theatre for a show. Back to Citizen Desk after a quick detour to pick up a dinner at Lucci’s Back When Cafe. Crack open a Red Bull. Sure its late - but it is your business, your office and here at Citizen Desk, the energy always flows late into the night.
What Does Citizen Desk Look Like?
Check out the Citizen Desk About page - We’ll post images as we build out the space.
Can We Use Citizen Desk Space To Host a Meetup?
Absolutely. We will work with any tenant to host parties or events like BarCamp, Tech Meetups, LAN Parties, and hackathons.
Do You Allow Pets?
Currently, no. It goes against our landlord’s policies, and there are allergy issues with some folks.
How Do I Get There?
Citizen Desk is located adjacent to Washington and Third Street, across the street from Wausau Center Mall and near a major bike path. As advocates of alternative transportation, we suggest travel by foot, bike, bus, or scooter.
Won’t I Get Sweaty?
Not to worry - Citizen Desk is equipped with air conditioning.
Let’s Say I Need To Drive, Where Can I Park?
You can find plenty of free and paid parking options within a few blocks of Citizen Desk. There is a great longer term option just down the street at the 100 Block off of Jefferson, across from the Jefferson Street Inn. You can purchase a monthly parking pass from the City for $35. To park, just head over to City Hall and pick up a pass at 407 Grant Street. If you need more info, call (715) 261-6500.
Where Can My Clients Park?
There are plenty of free & metered spaces right out front.
Sounds Great - It Must Cost A Fortune!
Not at all. Keep in mind we are looking to support independent business - not huge corporations. Our introductory pricing is $175/Month for a desk (About the cost of 2 Starbucks Lattes Per Day).
Nights and Weekends?
Yes, one of the things that this concept will allow us to do is to cater to the moonlighting crowd (think PR mavens, photographers, designers and web 2.0 architects) who start their second shift right after the first. By offering a nights and weekends plan, we hope to continue to stoke the fires of entrepreneurialism throughout this great land. Plus, at $175/Month - how can you beat it?
What Does the Desk Include?
For $175/Month you will be considered an anchor tenant and have 24X7 access to Citizen Desk, an assigned desk for the duration of your tenancy, unlimited Internet access, and use of the conference room.
Wow That’s Cheaper Than Apartment Rent - Can I Live/Sleep Here?
Short answer - No. That would be a violation, and abuses could get you kicked out for good. That said, a short nap in the chill-out room is good for the soul.
How Do I Pay My Rent?
We prefer using Google Checkout for our payment method. Go to the Pricing Page to see various options available.
How Do I Schedule The Conference Room?
Easy. Go to the Citizen Desk Google Calendar and schedule the room for the time you need. If someone already has that slot, please pick another or meet in the lounge area.
How Do I Cancel My Lease?
By definition this space is month to month. We do ask that you give written notice (email ok) within 30 days of the end of the month that you will be vacating the space, and ask that you return the access key. Easy, no?
What If I Don’t Pay My Rent?
If rent is not received within 5 days of the beginning of the month, it will be assumed that you have canceled your lease. If we have not received your key back within 15 days of the beginning of the month, you will be charged for the changing of the locks and new keys. If you still have items in the space at that point, your items will be removed and sent at your expense to your last known address.
What if Someone Eats My Spaghetti?
Not that we are looking to create a Lord of the Flies environment here, but part of the Citizen Desk concept involves some self-policing and ad-hoc rule making. We will established a Rules of the House section on our the Website. Tenants are free to add/delete/edit in the spirit of the wiki. Keep in mind, however, you are still bound by the Terms Of Use (TOU).
Can I Leave My Things In The Office?
If you are a Night and Weekend or Plan tenant, you must clean off your desk when you leave for the day/night. Anchor Tenants will have permanently assigned desks, and can leave personal items, pictures, files, etc. on their desks. That said, we would not recommend leaving anything out that might disappear unlocked on the desk. This is a rule of thumb for traditional offices as well, so nothing new here. Neither Citizen Desk management nor the building owner will take responsibility for any lost or stolen items.
What About Leaving Printers and Monitors?
We recommend you cable lock your gear to the table, so things like printers and monitors can be left for the night.
What If I Borrow A Monitor or iPod From a Citizen Desk Tenant?
We are sure that your own ethical nature should be enough of a deterrent to “borrowing” items without asking. If not, keep in mind that removal of any items not yours from the space is considered theft. Your space will be immediately terminated and the authorities contacted.
What About Locking Things Up?
We’re looking into providing standard lockers (think high-school) in the facility for tenants to use on a first-come first-served basis, but at this time there are none available. You are certainly welcome to bring your own lockable storage. 
Those Are Cool Chairs. They Would Look Great In My Apartment!
While a small fortune has been spent to outfit and furnish Citizen Desk for your working pleasure, we would ask that all of the furnishings stay in the space. See “What If I Borrow A Monitor or iPod From a Citizen Desk Tenant?” above.
Will This Work For Me?
I Sell Enterprise Software And I Am On The Road 3 Days a Week - Will This Work For Me?
Certainly - if you are a road warrior in need of the occasional office space and conference room, our desk plan is perfect for you.
We Have a 2/3/5-Person Software Start-up - Will This Work For Us?
Absolutely, and as you grow we have access to more traditional office space to accommodate your growing needs.
We Office Out of Stevens Point, But Sometimes Need A Wausau Presence - Will This Work For Us?
Yup, at $175/Month for our desk Plan you will have a permanent Wausau presence, conference room, desk and Internet access whenever you need it - all for less than the price of a single day in private meeting suite at one of Wausau’s hotels!
We Have an 8-Person Design Shop and Need Privacy - Will This Work For Us?
It depends. If you need your own private offices, then we may not be able to meet your needs immediately, but perhaps soon. However, if you can work in an open-plan environment 90% of the time, and have your private meetings behind closed doors in the conference room - then absolutely.
I am an Accountant/Lawyer And Need To Keep All Of My Files Secure - Will This Work For Me?
If you are an accountant or lawyer who keeps copious files, and requires privacy and file security, Citizen Desk in it’s current condition is probably not a perfect fit for you.
This Is Incredible! When Do You Open?
Our initial space in downtown Wausau will open for business in August, 2007.
OK, I Am Sold - How Do I Sign Up?
Go to our Membership Page, download and read the Agreement, follow the instructions from there. Or simply send us an email.