After the ‘urban exodus’ brought on by the pandemic, most of New York City’s boroughs are regaining their population.

As the pandemic began to shut down public life, Manhattan saw a sharp outmigration of households seeking more space and more affordable housing outside the city. “In that first pandemic year, New York City saw more outbound migration than any other metro area in the US, with at least 160,000 households fleeing between March 2020 and February 2021, according to the data provided by Melissa, which is sourced from US Postal Service change-of-address records.”
The trend is starting to reverse, however. “The largest US city still faces a tough road ahead with overall population declining, low office return figures threatening business survival and fear of crime cited as a deterrent to moving to the city,” writes Sarah Holder in Bloomberg CityLab. “But as suburban housing prices spiked and businesses reopened, the data shared by Melissa show that in the second year of the pandemic, migration out of Manhattan slowed down, and migration into the borough increased.”
Meanwhile, “A gradual return to in-office work, at least part-time, and the city’s enduring allure as a global destination are driving some people back. Limited and increasingly expensive housing inventory outside the city may also be making it harder to leave.” According to the article, “Of the five New York City boroughs, all but Staten Island and the Bronx have gained new residents compared to the first year of the pandemic. Manhattan gained the most.” With the suburban housing market growing more competitive, leaving the city is becoming less attractive.
FULL STORY: More People Are Moving to Manhattan Than Before the Pandemic

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

‘Train Daddy’ Andy Byford to Oversee Amtrak’s High-Speed Rail Efforts
Byford, who formerly ran NYC Transit and Transport for London, could bring renewed vigor to the agency’s plans to expand regional rail in the United States.

Seattle Bus Lane Cameras Capture Over 100,000 Violations
An automated traffic enforcement pilot program caught drivers illegally using transit lanes more than 110,000 times in less than a year.

Immigration Grows, Population Drops in Many U.S. Counties
International immigration to the country’s most populous areas tripled even as major metropolitan areas continued to lose population.

$616 Million in Development Incentives Approved for District Detroit
The “Transformational Brownfield” incentives approved by the Detroit City Council for the $1.5 billion District Detroit still require approval by the state.

Affordable Housing Development Rejected for Lack of Third Staircase in Connecticut
The New Canaan Planning Commission rejected a development proposal, including 31 below-market-rate apartments, for lack of a third staircase, among other reasons, at a time when advocates are pushing to relax two-staircase requirements.
Houston-Galveston Area Council
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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