Reimagining Cities-Disrupting the Urban Doom Loop

TOTAL CRIME AND TOTAL FOOT TRAFFIC

2021 TOTAL CRIME INDEX

175%

150%

In other words, increases in crime are not consistently associated with changes in the GDP generated in that WalkUP. The one outlier is Urban University WalkUPs, where there is a correlation. These WalkUPs had lower overall crime in 2021 and showed the most improvement over the next two years. This is likely because universities often have dedicated, and sometimes armed, campus security, more prevalent surveillance systems, and enhanced communication systems that help prevent crime and alert community members (i.e., students, staff, faculty, etc.) to security risks. This contrasts with place management organizations’ “safety ambassadors,” who may be connected to the police but lack policing powers. Universities also implement strict policies and preventive measures, and they face high accountability from parents and even the federal government for their students’ safety. In most cases, however, higher crime levels are not necessarily driving GDP down, nor is crime exclusively drawn to areas with high or low GDP outputs. One clear indicator of changes in the real and perceived safety of a place can be seen in foot traffic recovery levels in WalkUPs between 2021 and 2023. WalkUPs with lower crime rates generally experienced higher foot traffic recovery relative to pre-pandemic levels (2019). The relationship is strongest among Urban University WalkUps and their neighborhoods but is also present in Downtown and Downtown Adjacent WalkUPs. Interestingly, the relationship between crime and foot traffic recovery is minimal in Urban Commercial WalkUPs. This may be due to other factors, such as the opening and closing of major retail locations, playing a larger role in attracting people back to these areas.

125%

100% (2019 vs 2023)

Total Foot Traffic Recovery

75%

50%

0

200

400

Total Crime Index (2021)

2023 TOTAL CRIME INDEX

175%

150%

125%

100% (2019 vs 2023)

Total Foot Traffic Recovery

75%

50%

0

200

400

Total Crime Index (2023)

Downtown

Downtown Adjacent Urban Commercial Urban University

Source: Placer.ai; Esri; Places Platform, LLC; Cushman & Wakefield Research

Reimagining Cities: Disrupting the Urban Doom Loop 63