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Tuesday, September 26th, 2023

Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities — here’s what’s next

Author:     John Rennie Short
Source:     The Conversation
Publication Date:     September 25, 2023
 Link: Traditional downtowns are dead or dying in many US cities — here’s what’s next
Stephan:  

If you read me regularly you will see this as the latest on a trend SR has been covering for several years (See SR Archive). American cities are undergoing a massive change that is not being properly or adequately covered. John Short gets what is happening and describes his view of it well here. I think these office buildings should, where possible be converted into residential usage in several forms, and with enough vertical farming to provide produce for the community. I think cities should be seen holistically with wellbeing as the main priority.

San Francisco Trolley and cars on road near high rise buildings during daytime Credit: Ethan Chang / Unsplash

The hollowing out of U.S. cities’ office and commercial cores is a national trend with serious consequences for millions of Americans. As more people have stayed home following the COVID-19 pandemic, foot traffic has fallen. Major retail chains are closing stores, and even prestigious properties are having a hard time retaining tenants.

The shuttering of a Whole Foods market after only a year in downtown San Francisco in May 2023 received widespread coverage. Even more telling was the high-end department store Nordstrom’s decision to close its flagship store there in August after a 35-year run.

In New York City, office vacancy rates have risen by over 70% since 2019. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a stretch of high-end shops and restaurants, had a 26% vacancy rate in spring 2023.

A recent study from the University of Toronto found that across North America, downtowns are recovering from the pandemic more slowly than other urban areas and that “older, denser downtowns reliant on professional or tech workers and located within large […]

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