The Wharf in Washington, DC, integrates uses and amenities within a vibrant public realm, and has quickly become the hottest place to live and work in the District. Photograph by Andrew Rugge/Copyright Perkins Eastman
“Experts say the real estate market in our cities is responding to the dramatic changes caused by COVID with a “flight to quality.” This headline suggests optimism that a safe harbor still exists out there as does the fear that we all need to act fast and run (for our lives) before things get bad. It reflects a winnowing to the essential characteristics that can ensure the best overall return and insulate us from the changing winds in the economy.
“Cities around the world are struggling to adapt and respond to these rapidly changing preferences. We are changing the way we inhabit our urban centers. The reemergence of walkable pedestrian districts shows that when we design a quality public realm that includes a wider array of uses than in recent decades, we create quality urban destinations that are timeless and resilient.” —Peter Cavaluzzi in this month’s Urban Land