Although remote work has opened up new housing possibilities for many Americans, data indicates that migration flows to 'heartland' cities have been relatively modest.

Despite hopes that the boom in remote work and "untethered" tech employees would "redistribute economic vitality more evenly across the country after a decade of excessive concentration in coastal 'superstar' cities," a joint Brookings Institution and Walton Family Foundation study by Mark Muro, Yang You, Robert Maxim, and Max Niles "raises questions about the true potential of the remote-work-driven renewal storyline."
"An April CBRE analysis on migration patterns—based on frequently updated U.S. Postal Service data—reported that while the outflow of people from dense, high-cost urban metro areas accelerated in 2020, the flows were rather modest in most cases (with the exceptions of the Bay Area, New York, and Seattle). What’s more, most of the moves were short to moderate distances, often to nearby counties—not the nation’s interior."
The report, State of the Heartland: Factbook 2018, "found that in 2020, there was a gross total of 700,000 outbound moves from the Bay Area—but only 12,000 address changes were filed for moves from the Bay Area to the 19 classic heartland states. These 12,000 moves do not seem nearly enough to significantly revitalize the region." Nationwide, the number of people moving away from large coastal cities "amount to less than 0.2% of the 125 million heartland and Mountain West population—again, not enough people to significantly revitalize the nation’s massive interior and its challenged small towns and cities." Additionally, "[r]emote work is declining rapidly, as more firms and workers prioritize at least some in-office work each week."
The authors conclude "most heartland cities should not hold their breath for quick, migration-driven turnarounds generated by the arrival of new tech or professional workers from the coasts." Rather, "regional leaders will need to continue making the kind of conscious, long-term investments that have long been the drivers of local economic growth and high standards of living."
FULL STORY: Remote work won’t save the heartland

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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