The death of downtowns

"Will the downtown ever return to what it once was? Maybe - but if it does, it will not be for a long time. Downtown was a time and a place. It was killed by a pandemic and lawlessness. Am I sorry to see it go? Not a bit. Not even a very little bit."   

Big news yesterday in the media. Target Corp, the Twin Cities largest private employer, announced they are going to a hybrid work environment. Why is that big news and what does that mean? It is big news as many of the empty downtown spaces will remain empty. People will be working from home and occasionally at the office. What this means for downtown is a huge paradigm shift. From restaurants to transportation, everything is going to change. 

It is not just Minneapolis which is changing. New York City, is still less than half occupied. And the subways? Just as they were starting to come back a bit, we had a mass shooting. What are the experts saying about the Big Apple? It will never look as it once did. Because of the pandemic, crime, expense, and so forth - when workers are given the option of working from home or the office, many gladly choose home. 

I have worked downtown Minneapolis. I have worked downtown St. Paul. I spent a good portion of my working life in Washington DC. I did not care for any of them to be honest. But now that Target has made the choice to be hybrid, look for many of the others to follow. Best Buy (who is not located downtown), also made the choice at their HQ to go hybrid.

The other day, my wife and I were in Maple Grove. We drove by the transit station. Empty. Has been for a couple of years. The North Star stations in Coon Rapids, Elk River, and Ramsey. All empty. We now have some train routes which terminate in Minneapolis, which are barely ridden. And will stay that way. Billions of dollars - wasted.

Some say the downtown died because of the George Floyd riots. Remember that summer? When a whole bunch of later day Abby Hoffman's practiced Revolution for the Hell of it? The the City Council got rid of many of the cops. Those who remained, were not supported by the city. The result was the criminals ruled the streets. Car jackings became as common as crossing the street. To venture downtown became a risk rather than a joy. Net result? Anyone who had the opportunity NOT to work downtown - jumped at it. 

Will the downtown ever return to what it once was? Maybe - but if it does, it will not be for a long time. Downtown was a time and a place. It was killed by a pandemic and lawlessness. Am I sorry to see it go? Not a bit. Not even a very little bit.