My Unpopular Opinion Against "Cities are Dying!"

[Matt I.]

These days everyone loves to say it. People are leaving the city for the suburbs.
In my opinion, people who left cities during the pandemic would have done so eventually anyway.

For those who left, the spacious and calmer life of suburbia has been a daydream for some time now. As nightlife and concerts come to a halt, and dining at your favorite restaurant means sitting at a picnic table in a parking lane during January, their decision is accelerated.

For those who left, the city was just a stop along the way. A convenient place for employment and the occasional $9 IPA. 

In comes the pandemic. People lose their jobs, and their ability to stumble out of the Uber and pack into a sweaty night club. "The cost of living in (insert major city here) is too high!" And off they fly towards the 'burbs like its the 1950's.

Either that, or their destiny has always been the house with the fake shutters and the fence and the front lawn and the dog. And the shed for all the stuff they must now buy.

Yes- remote work culture has also left us with a location identity crisis. But if I'm moving my 9-5 to my spare bedroom, the last thing I want to is to be stranded on a suburban island where it will take me a 15-minute drive to get to the nearest chain restaurant in some strip mall. Hmm what do I want for lunch today, Applebees or Buffalo Wild Wings? 

The American embrace of urban living was thriving before the pandemic. People finally started to realize the health and social benefits of living near walkable amenities, public transit, and cultural diversity. Maybe we were starting to learn from our urban ancestors in Europe, where the city is an archive of mankind's past achievements and the pedestal for future aspirations.

Cities still are, and will continue to be epicenters for technological innovation and higher education. They will guard the greatest museums which carry the most precious arts. They will be the pit stops for the most successful touring musicians- and the path to stardom for the young and aspiring artists. They will showcase the most iconic architecture that is so unique to the time and place, their means and methods can never again be replicated. They will be the destinations for curious travelers seeking to experience the soul of a 'place' they have never been. Finally, how many suburbs have pro sports teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc?

Sure, people will rebut this post with stats of migration patterns and real estate sales. I too have access to google.

My point is this: to look at the data and make a blanket statement about cities being doomed ignores the "why" behind all this. Nobody would disagree with me if I said people are leaving places they can't afford, while their employment is unstable and most social events are dead for the foreseeable future- so they look for a new place.

For some people, that place happens to be the adjacent suburb. Cheaper than the city, but they can still sing Tom Petty covers at the local dive bar karaoke night. 

However anyone who values what urban living has to offer will seek the same lifestyle and conveniences elsewhere. Maybe somewhere in-between a city and a small town. The places that come to mind are Charlottesville VA, New Hope PA, Asbury Park NJ.

Others will remain in place or seek an alternative where they can still walk a couple of blocks for groceries, and get their social fix at the local dog park while keeping 6' distance. They will continue to support their favorite local grub spots for take-out or a cocktail to go (and tip well). They will work on that business plan and network with like-minded entrepreneurs at the outdoor seating area of their local microbrewery.  

Everybody else would have eventually left the city anyway.