A look at America’s cities, post-Covid

They say all work and no play makes Jack the US a dull boy… but according to new data, things seem to be changing.

In America’s ten largest cities, office occupancy rates are less than half of what they were pre-Covid (44%), per a new report from business key card firm Kastle. Not a huge surprise. But here’s where things get interesting: office occupancy rates have now stayed at roughly the same level for several months in a row – but downtown neighborhoods are buzzing with social activity.

• Restaurant reservations across all US cities currently stand at 98% of their pre-Covid levels, Bloomberg reports, and foot traffic at arts and theater venues has similarly rebounded.
• In NYC, activity currently stands at 97% of what it was before the pandemic, based on a recent analysis of data from 18 million smartphones.
• In other places like Salt Lake City or Jacksonville, foot traffic levels ​​have rebounded to beyond pre-pandemic levels – though the vast majority of US cities are in the 55% to 90% range.

🏙 The bottom line: When asked to identify the most important features of a great business district by Gensler, a research firm, city dwellers’ top three results were consistent across all generations and 15 cities: restaurants, outdoor space, and public transit options. Shopping, theaters, and “culture” (aka museums and art galleries) were next on the list… and ranking last?

Access to workplaces and office buildings.