[llevrok]

The company from which I retired (Weyerhaeuser) moved from the city of Tacoma to a rural part of King County Washington in the early 70’s. The reason was more space for their growing headquarters AND affordable housing for the families (key word: families) that worked there. Without these suburban neighborhoods, it would be hard to get operations talent to re-locate there upon promotions

In 2015 they announced they were leaving that HQ and would build a new one in downtown Seattle. The reason? The once mighty brick and mortar forest products is now essentially a financial business managing only forest lands as a REIT. They said a metropolitan city is where the talent is. The new building will have only 40 or so parking spaces. Who knows how many bike racks. I doubt few working there will be family people, rather than childless urban people.

[JediJones]

I doubt few working there will be family people, rather than childless urban people.

Which is what explains it more than anything. The new "talent" doesn't need big living spaces anymore because they're staying single and delaying (or denying) childbirth.