Major US city has one of the deadest downtowns in the world, survey finds

A new global survey underscores that Los Angeles's downtown struggles to regain vitality, ranking among the deadest downtowns in the world. Gensler's 2026 City Pulse surveyed 35,000 city residents across 75 major cities, finding about 65% view downtown L.A. as vibrant, compared with more than 80% in cities such as New York, Chicago and Boston. Globally, L.A.'s downtown ranked 20th lowest for vibrancy, and 11th lowest among 34 U.S. cities. The report also notes weaker perceptions of beauty and welcome, with 58% finding downtown visually appealing and 60% finding it welcoming. The findings set that tone over broader issues facing the area’s revival.