The effects of COVID-19 on downtown land use: Evidence from four U.S. cities

Hutson, Nathan; Orlando, Anthony W.

doi:10.1080/07352166.2023.2195665

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 37 publications

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“…Microscale economic consequences are not as well understood; businesses experienced wide variations in economic impact from the pandemic (Goolsbee and Syverson, 2021;Klein and Smith, 2021;Monte, 2021;Autor et al, 2022). Cities were struck by the hollowing out of office-rich downtown cores and urban flight-shifts in the populations of office workers and residents that comprise the customer base of metropolitan central business districts (Liu and Su, 2021;Ramani and Bloom, 2021;Rosenthal et al, 2022;Hutson and Orlando, 2023). Suddenly, the characteristics of the built environment, immutable due to their inordinate agglomerated expenses and relied upon for economic performance, such as building design and urban density, were up for reconsideration by policymakers, academics, business owners, and consumers alike.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic resilience during COVID-19: the case of food retail businesses in Seattle, Washington

Sun,

Whittington,

Ning

et al. 2023

Front. Built Environ.

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The first year of COVID-19 tested the economic resilience of cities, calling into question the viability of density and the essential nature of certain types of services. This study examines built environment and socio-economic factors associated with the closure of customer-facing food businesses across urban areas of Seattle, Washington. The study covers 16 neighborhoods (44 census block groups), with two field audits of businesses included in cross-sectional studies conducted during the peak periods of the pandemic in 2020. Variables describing businesses and their built environments were selected and classified using regression tree methods, with relationships to business continuity estimated in a binomial regression model, using business type and neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics as controlled covariates. Results show that the economic impact of the pandemic was not evenly distributed across the built environment. Compared to grocery stores, the odds of a restaurant staying open during May and June were 24%, only improving 10% by the end of 2020. Density played a role in business closure, though this role differed over time. In May and June, food retail businesses were 82% less likely to remain open if located within a quarter-mile radius of the office-rich areas of the city, where pre-pandemic job density was greater than 95 per acre. In November and December, food retail businesses were 66% less likely to remain open if located in areas of residential density greater than 23.6 persons per acre. In contrast, median household income and percentage of non-Asian persons of color were positively and significantly associated with business continuity. Altogether, these findings provide more detailed and accurate profiles of food retail businesses and a more complete impression of the spatial heterogeneity of urban economic resilience during the pandemic, with implications for future urban planning and real estate development in the post-pandemic era.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic resilience during COVID-19: the case of food retail businesses in Seattle, Washington

Sun,

Whittington,

Ning

et al. 2023

Front. Built Environ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Who died, who survived? COVID-19 epidemic, industrial dynamics and urban economic resilience

Sheng,

He,

Dai

et al. 2024

Sustainable Cities and Society

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Assessing downtown recovery rates and determinants in North American cities after the COVID-19 pandemic

Forouhar,

Chapple,

Allen

et al. 2024

Urban Studies

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North American downtowns are struggling to recover from the global COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate the varying rates of recovery experienced by downtown areas in the 66 largest cities of the United States and Canada. Leveraging Location-Based Services data extracted from mobile phone location trajectories, we assess the recovery rates in the 2023 post-pandemic period, juxtaposed against pre-pandemic 2019 levels. We find significant disparities in downtown recovery rates. Economic factors emerge as crucial determinants, where downtowns hosting a concentration of sectors with remote/hybrid work options – such as information, finance, professional services and management – displayed sluggish recovery. Conversely, downtowns with a focus on industries like accommodation, manufacturing, education, retail, construction, entertainment and healthcare exhibited greater resilience post pandemic. Furthermore, higher density, crime rates and education levels were correlated with slower recovery rates, as were harsher weather conditions and longer commuting times. Lower-density and auto-orientated downtowns demonstrated a swift rebound, even surpassing pre-pandemic activity levels. These findings underscore the necessity for tailored policies to bolster the revival of North American downtown areas.

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The effects of COVID-19 on downtown land use: Evidence from four U.S. cities

Cited by 4 publications

References 37 publications

Economic resilience during COVID-19: the case of food retail businesses in Seattle, Washington

Economic resilience during COVID-19: the case of food retail businesses in Seattle, Washington

Who died, who survived? COVID-19 epidemic, industrial dynamics and urban economic resilience

Assessing downtown recovery rates and determinants in North American cities after the COVID-19 pandemic

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