The confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of technology enabling effective remote work has caused a dramatic drop in demand for office space and a shift in what employers need from their physical spaces. This places the city in a precarious position as the district’s main source of economic vibrancy has seemingly evaporated, and new sources of economic vibrancy are yet to be established.

This shift in how and where work is performed has far-ranging implications for the vibrancy of downtown commercial centers such as Downtown Boston and the Financial District. Cities across the country and world are grappling with how to adapt to the rapid changes in where people choose to live, work, and shop. But some cities – and neighborhoods within cities - are experiencing the more acute effects.