Downtown Recovery

As downtowns adjust to a new normal of hybrid and remote work, many seek to recover by attracting different types of activity. When downtowns serve as hubs for entertainment, food, retail, and tourism, they can attract visitors and shoppers around the clock. In this analysis, we show how cities recover during working hours (8 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday) compared to after-work hours (weeknights 6 PM to 8 AM and the entire weekend), as well as weekdays versus weekends. This provides invaluable insights into how cities can best bring back their downtowns. During working hours, downtown areas typically function as commercial and financial hubs. Our findings shared below reveal that all North American downtowns have exhibited a greater decrease in activity levels during working hours, reflecting a trend towards remote work and flexible schedules.