ADRR Advisory Board's Email Conversation Series
Are the Challenges Our Larger Downtowns Now Face Properly Scoped Out? Downtown Offices, Remote Workers, and Hybrid Models
June 23, 2022
Commentators:Mike Berne, MJB Consulting; Charles Buki, CZB; Dave Feehan, Civitas Consultants; Richard Florida, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto; Paul Levy, Center City District, Philadelphia; Andrew Manshel, author, attorney, former BID manager; David Milder, DANTH, Inc and The ADRR
Conversation Dates:May 4 to 12, 2022
Since its inception, members of the American Downtown Revitalization Review’s (ADRR) Board have engaged in a near continuous e-mail dialogue about a wide range of issues, trends and opportunities that do not, in our opinions, always receive the attention they need and deserve in other media outlets and industry publications. The vitality of these conversations is evident in the number who join and/or read these back-and-forths more than two years after the ADRR’s launch; indeed, over time, non-Board members have added to the ferment with their own observations and insights.
As most others concerned about downtown revitalization, we at the ADRR have been trying to understand the challenges the Covid19 pandemic has generated and to identify effective strategic and programmatic responses to them. To help speed progress in this effort, our editor, David Milder, wrote “Are the Challenges Our Larger Downtowns Now Face Properly Scoped Out?” It can be accessed at:
In it he looked at: the strength of downtown offices and how they are being impacted by remote work; downtown housing; downtown retail, and downtown public order and safety. After reviewing a draft of that article, the ADRR board engaged a in discussion of these challenges. The edited transcript of these discussions is being posted to The ADRR website, one for each challenge, as they are completed. They are also being distributed via our MailChimp emails. Below is the transcript on downtown offices, remote work, and hybrid models.