In this article, we will take a look at the 20 US cities with the biggest downtowns while navigating through some of their distinctive features and attractions.
America’s Deserted Downtowns: The Background
Downtown also commonly called the central business district of a city is its commercial and cultural center. Downtowns across the US are unique in regards to the history, culture, density, and vibrancy they tend to offer. However, many of the downtowns in the country remain deserted as an after-effect of the global pandemic. This is because many residents left the city centers amidst the remote work settings that emerged during the lockdowns thereby leaving behind once booming business districts which then started to struggle.
For reviving such downtowns and fixing the overall US housing shortage, the Biden administration has expressed its favor in converting commercial properties to residential use after noticing high downtown office vacancies. As reported by CNN, several issues resist the conversion cities want to undertake to save their downtowns such as restrictive zoning, office spaces positioned in places where people don’t wish to live, structural differences between offices and homes, or the unavailability of offices for conversion. For instance, downtown Denver encompasses only 2% of its office buildings with a potential to undergo this change.
Residential Homebuilders to the Rescue
During a period of the aforementioned lack of houses in the US, several American homebuilders have remained resilient despite the demoralizing state of the national housing market. PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) is one such homebuilder that has a homebuilding history of over seven decades and engages in home construction in 24 states and in more than 40 major cities including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas. Pulte Homes® brings the Pulte difference to homebuyers through flexible floor plans, options for all budgets, quality construction, and the ease of buying and financing the desired home. The homebuilder closed the fiscal first quarter of 2024 with a strong financial performance and high home sale revenues driven by strong demand and its alignment with the unique needs of first-time, move-up, and active-adult consumers.
As reported by CNN, the new US home sales experienced the slowest pace since November after declining by 11.3% in May. Additionally, home prices climbed to a record $419,300. Simultaneously, Bank of America has forecasted home prices to climb by 4.5% this year. With mortgage rates hovering around 7% and just one rate cut on the horizon as signaled by the Fed, market conditions remain tight.
However, the strong desire for homeownership in a supply-constrained environment as emphasized during the firm’s earnings call creates enough demand for the company to keep its performance robust. Furthermore, the company’s diversified portfolio of brands including Pulte, Del Webb, DiVosta, Centex, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West which covers all buyer groups reduces the market risks for it. The company is also opening ways to broaden its national footprint and capture a larger consumer base by expanding recently into multiple markets including Portland, Denver, and Salt Lake City.
The skyline of New York City, USA with a LEED certified office building of the company in focus at sunset.
Our Methodology:
In order to compile a list of the 20 US cities with big downtowns, we used Reddit to find 15 threads that asked people about such cities. We read and analyzed all the comments and added the upvotes for each city on our list. Lastly, we shortlisted the cities that had at least a total of 150 upvotes and ranked those on our list in ascending order of the total upvotes on Reddit. The distinctive features of the respective downtowns have been discussed in the list.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of Reddit users.
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20 Cities With The Biggest Downtowns In The US
20. Philadelphia
Upvotes: 197
The central business district of Philadelphia, Center City, is a rather densely populated downtown area in the US. It has some of the largest buildings including Liberty Place, Centre Square, and Philadelphia City Hall.
19. San Diego
Upvotes: 216
Downtown San Diego, the city center of San Diego, is home to more than 4,000 businesses. San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Opera are situated in the downtown area. Tourist attractions include the San Diego Maritime Museum, Petco Park, and Gaslamp Quarter.
18. Austin
Upvotes: 234
Downtown Austin has been referred to as an engaging place that can be explored around the year. Apart from being the center of government and business for the region, it has a vibrant nightlife to offer. The food scene in the city’s downtown is also thriving.
17. Pittsburgh
Upvotes: 256
Pittsburgh’s downtown, the urban downtown center of the city, is also known as the Golden Triangle. The Cultural District has multiple theaters and galleries other than restaurants. The Market Square is one of the oldest historic places in downtown Pittsburgh surrounded by many restaurants, retailers, and cafes.
16. Miami
Upvotes: 288
Downtown Miami is the commercial and cultural center of the Miami metropolitan area. It has a high concentration of high-rises. The downtown includes famous parks including Bayfront Park and Museum Park, museums such as Pérez Art Museum Miami and Historical Museum of Southern Florida, as well as the Miami Tower.
15. Nashville
Upvotes: 309
The Music City Nashville is known for its vibrant music scene. Similar to the city’s vibe, its lively downtown boasts multiple music venues and concert halls. Art galleries, eateries, and boutique hotels are also present.
14. Detroit
Upvotes: 332
Detroit’s downtown is lined up with a variety of entertainment options to seek. Detroit Opera House, Detroit Riverwalk, and Hart Plaza are some of the attractions in the downtown. Parks, historic churches, and theatres can be visited.
13. Dallas
Upvotes: 351
Downtown Dallas is located in the heart of Dallas and is one of the largest business districts in the state of Texas. For those visiting the area, the historic Dallas Farmers Market is a good place to explore food options. Families can take a trip to Klyde Warren Park while those passionate about art can see the Dallas Museum of Art.
12. Boise
Upvotes: 369
Downtown Boise is situated north of the Boise River. It is the largest city center in Idaho. The downtown has been cited to be a vibrant place with a lot of happening activities for those who are interested in dining, shopping, or arts. The city ranks 12th on our list of other US cities with the largest downtowns.
11. Portland
Upvotes: 383
Downtown Portland comprises many of the high-rise buildings in the city. The downtown has been deemed walkable allowing access to a wide range of activities. Shopping enthusiasts can enjoy the various retailers including locally owned boutiques. Portland Art Museum can be visited to discover Native American and Northwest art. Outdoor activities can be also undertaken in the Tom Mccall Waterfront Park.
10. Denver
Upvotes: 395
Downtown Denver serves as the main business district in the city. Apart from its commercial activity, it boasts multiple entertainment options. The 16th Street Mall is a known attraction as it offers numerous cafes and bars. Baseball lovers can go to Coors Field to witness a major league baseball game. The culinary scene in the downtown is also good.
9. Atlanta
Upvotes: 409
With many corporate and regional headquarters, downtown Atlanta is one of the city’s largest commercial districts. The place has been recommended for both families and friends. The Fountain of Rings is a popular local attraction based in Centennial Olympic Park. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the SkyView Ferris wheel from where they can enjoy the views of the downtown. Those with children can take a trip to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
8. Seattle
Upvotes: 411
Downtown Seattle is a bustling place that has something to offer to the tourists as well as the locals. Those visiting the downtown can ride on the Seattle Great Wheel, explore the Olympic Sculpture Park, or tour the old Pike Place Market.
7. Houston
Upvotes: 433
The largest business district in the state of Texas, Downtown Houston, encompasses extensive office space. It is home to several Fortune 500 corporations. The popular Houston Theater District hosts the Alley Theatre, Wortham Theater Center, and Jones Hall. Hence, Houston is one of the US cities with a big downtown.
6. Boston
Upvotes: 454
Downtown Boston has multiple landmarks including Custom House Tower, City Hall, Massachusetts State House, Faneuil Hall, and Quincy Market. Several government facilities as well as corporate headquarters are positioned in the downtown.
5. San Francisco
Upvotes: 479
San Francisco’s downtown hosts a wide variety of restaurants, galleries, bars, and shops that can be visited. Some of the known attractions in the city’s downtown include the Union Square shopping district, the Cable Car Museum, and the Ferry Building.
4. Los Angeles
Upvotes: 481
Downtown Los Angeles is a part of the Central Los Angeles region. Activities recommended for touring the city’s downtown include seeing the Walt Disney Concert Hall, enjoying food at the Grand Central Market, and strolling through Grand Park. The Los Angeles Fashion District and Arts District could also be explored.
3. Washington D.C.
Upvotes: 505
As the center of the capital, Downtown DC has a lot to offer. It is currently one of the largest central business districts in the country thereby ranking Washington D.C. among the 20 cities with the biggest downtowns. Shopping and dining options are diverse. It also hosts various museums including the National Building Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
2. Chicago
Upvotes: 522
Chicago comes second among the US cities with the biggest downtowns. The Loop, one of the largest commercial business districts in North America, serves as the main section of Downtown Chicago. It is referred to as the heart of the city and is home to numerous restaurants, hotels, theaters, global and national businesses.
1. New York City
Upvotes: 547
New York City ranks at the top of the US cities with the biggest downtowns. Downtown New York also referred to as Lower Manhattan strengthens NYC’s presence as a global financial center. The world-known Wall Street is positioned in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. Iconic structures such as the Bull of Wall Street, New York City Hall, and the Woolworth Building are positioned in the downtown. Some of the places that have been recommended for a visit to the city’s downtown include witnessing the One World Observatory, the National September 11 Museum, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
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