How often do residents visit your downtown?
A new study from Gensler Research Institute reveals how much people actually visit their local downtowns, reports Ryan Kushner in Smart Cities Dive. "In North America, 47% of downtown visitors fall in the reluctant category, 23% as errand runners, 17% enthusiasts and 13% only visit for special events."
The survey, designed to test the "stickiness" of various downtowns, shows that "People aren’t staying away because they dislike their downtowns. They’re staying away because the pull isn’t strong enough, the friction is too high, or both," according to Sofia Song, Global Cities Research Leader at Gensler’s Research Institute.
Song adds, "Visitors who perceive their downtown as vibrant look for five key attributes, according to the report: After-hours activities, attractiveness, activities and events, good lighting and a sense of personal safety." The report notes, "The strategic goal should not be to simply increase total visits, but to move residents up the engagement ladder, converting Reluctant Visitors and Errand Runners into Enthusiasts."
Read the full story: These 10 US cities have the ‘stickiest’ downtowns
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
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Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
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