Post-pandemic Placemaking, Vaccine FOMO & Trillions of Dollars Coming Into the Economy 💸

About a year ago this week, most of us experienced the first widespread lockdown, and our lives were upended in ways we never could have imagined. Now a year in, we’re seeing successful rollouts of multiple vaccines, and a $1.9 trillion dollar relief package to help those hardest hit; that includes a whopping “$28.6 billion in debt-free relief for small and mid-sized restaurants”. And we all understand the value and importance of restaurants to our local economies.

These hopeful signs coupled with telling indicators of a forthcoming travel boom and overall physical and economic recovery by the end of the year, is welcome news to our ears. As your district begins welcoming back your much-missed visitors, it’s more important than ever to have a plan in place. If you need help, let the “people-first, data-driven strategists” at Bright Brothers Strategy Group give you a helping hand. Now, on with the show…

– Your Bright Brothers Team

Trillions are trending! And yes, that includes both the Federal relief package, as well as a predicted $1 trillion investment in restaurants over the next decade. The pandemic forced a lot of innovation in a short period of time for this industry, but oh so much more is in store. From ghost kitchens to a V-shaped economy, to vaccination verifications and more – get the scoop on what’s trending this season in our latest March 2021 Trends Report.

Photo credit: Louis Hansel, Unsplash 

In many places Spring is in the air, and as the season comes into full blossom, you’re going to see scads of people back on your streets. With lockdowns and restrictions ending, an increasingly vaccinated populace, and most of all; pent up demand – as the mercury rises, so will the desire for your district’s services and use of space. And your public space probably needs some sprucing up after a long winter, so consider these adaptable, modular planters from Tiny WPA that serve dual-purposes and can also be used as dynamic bench style seating. Whether you need/want sidewalk gardens, mobile playgrounds, staggered seating, designs for kiosks and library carts or even a public space toolkit – look no further than these purveyors of practical magic for your public realm. 

Photo credit: Tiny WPA

Vaccination FOMO is a real thing. And this informative piece from VICE talks through the various impacts of the vaccine roll-out, and the mixed emotions that can accompany a swiftly changing world. Just like any good therapist would tell you, your feelings are valid and serve a purpose. One consistent message we’ve all been told throughout the pandemic: stay positive! While negative emotions may serve a purpose, we have to keep looking forward and channeling our energies into something productive.

Photo credit: Pille-Riin Priske, Unsplash

There’s light at the end of the tunnel. This has been a recurring theme the past few weeks. Travel, tourism and hospitality numbers are directionally very positive. We’re seeing an increase in group booking, group dining, hotel blocks and event space reservations coming back online. Many trips, weddings, conventions, family vacations and holiday travel were abruptly put on hold for a year; now that the vaccines are rolling out, the revenue is returning.  CNBC reports that one of the most modest predictions from Wall Street came out of Goldman Sachs last week; prognosticating that unemployment could return to as low as 4.1% or lower by year’s end. With a sharp rebound in payroll predicted, we all need to be prepared for what’s next, and your own website analytics hold a major key. If that data isn’t driving your strategic planning, give us a shout to learn how it can.

Photo credit: Richard Tao, Unsplash 

Ah, the automobile. America is often defined by its love affair with the car, and we’ve published several trends reports on it in the past year. In many ways, cars can also be the bane of our existence. City planners and urban architects have long looked for ways to de-emphasize the gas guzzlers. The pandemic pushed priority parking for curbside pick-up to the forefront in Ann Arbor, MI; and some cities in California got creative using parking spots for outdoor dining.
 
Now that the pandemic is passing, we have to make a choice between progressive use of our city streets, or let automobiles reign once again. Which direction will your town take, and how are you thinking about your use of public space in the coming years?