乐竞体育赛事直播

乐竞体育赛事直播.org
0

Archive

Back to Blog List

Topics/Previous Posts

Gensler: Don鈥檛 give up on our nation鈥檚 CBDs quite yet

Tired of hearing about the death of downtown? The implications of such a prediction would certainly have dire consequences for the stability of our nation鈥檚 multifamily, retail and office property managers.

Take heart. While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on commuting, community and commerce, architecture firm Gensler sees a much brighter way forward, although the path is long and complex. In a blog entitled, 鈥�,鈥� bloggers Sofia Song and Mark Erdly walk us down that path and provide a laundry list of the necessities we鈥檒l need along the way. (For the record, Song is global leader of cities research at Gensler鈥檚 Research Institute, and Erdly is studio director and Regional Cities & Urban Design leader for Gensler鈥檚 Southeast region.)

鈥淚nstead of portending the end of the central business district, we believe that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a reset of the CBD and their relationship to the city at large,鈥� the writers state. 鈥淲e can use this moment to imagine a new model for growth, one that is more inclusive, resilient, sustainable and healthy. Underpinning this rebalancing are the foundational issues of affordability, jobs, talent and the economics of real estate.鈥�

But first we have to understand, they say, that the pandemic only hastened many trends that were already at work. These include more focus on experience and destination, changing work patterns and the migration of families (as well as companies) into suburbs and second-tier cities.

However, working in the cities鈥� favor is a longing to return to some form of life and interaction, somewhat free of social distancing and the necessity of meeting only through Zoom or some other choice of videoconference. People want experiences that, say Song and Erdly, you can鈥檛 replicate virtually. And after nine months of being cooped up, that longing is stronger than ever.聽

But to achieve those experiences in the CBD will take a major re-examination of how it functions, many easier said than done. 鈥淟ower rents and property values can make cities more accessible and affordable to locals, with the opportunity to create more walkable 鈥� neighborhoods. More residential and pedestrian-oriented uses with more green space can be infused into CBDs. Lower rents can also attract local startups, mom-and-pops, not-for-profits, small businesses, innovative food and beverage, community partnerships, makerspaces (collaborative workspaces) and local manufacturing.聽

Linked to the makerspaces, the bloggers also call for environments where R&D and tech can flourish. 鈥淐reatively reimagining abandoned storefronts can attract culture, arts, diversity and quirkiness, seeding a new and authentic DNA.鈥� This, they say, will necessitate a rethinking of ground-floor retail.聽

If you think none of this sounds easy or immediately accessible, you鈥檙e right. Included in the changes that would have to take place to engender this different way of thinking would be a greater emphasis on public/private partnerships, changes in zoning, as well as regulatory policies and greater investments in technology.

But that doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 start the journey. 鈥淚n an age of profound uncertainty and change, everything has to be on the table,鈥� says Song and Erdly. 鈥淭his will take a mindset of courage and optimism. While we think big, we must also prioritize smaller, less ambitious ideas that have incremental but meaningful impact.鈥�

No, this isn鈥檛 an overnight transformation, and it will literally take a village . . . or more accurately, the leaders of entire gateway cities . . . to make it happen. But the bloggers鈥� vision is not just high pie in the sky, and the seeds of that vision are already sprouting, such as in the Brooklyn, NY renaissance or, on the other coast, the redevelopment of the Los Angeles Arts District.聽

We鈥檙e at a stage in the COVID-19 pandemic where it has become part of our daily routine, what everyone refers to as the new normal. Gensler is putting forth a vision for how urban dwellers and workers can thrive in that new normal.聽


Leave a Comment

Back to Blog List

Close
Our site uses cookies to improve your visiting experience. Please view our Cookie and Privacy Policy.
Got it