In a promising turn for New York City’s commercial real estate sector, recent data suggests that the Manhattan office market is gradually regaining its pre-pandemic vigor. According to an analysis by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), office “visitations” in May reached 74% of 2019 levels, marking a notable improvement from 70% in the same month last year.
This upward trend in office occupancy offers a glimmer of hope for property owners and investors who have grappled with the challenges posed by remote work policies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data, derived from Placer.ai location information, encompasses visits to 350 office buildings, tracked through cellphone records, and includes retail traffic within these properties.
While the May figure showed a slight dip from April’s 75% due to Memorial Day weekend travel, analysts believe the overall trajectory remains positive. Keith DeCoster, REBNY’s director of market data and policy, notes that excluding the holiday weekend, May’s numbers would have surpassed those of April.
Key Takeaways:
- Manhattan office visitations in May 2024 reached 74% of pre-pandemic levels.
- Year-over-year improvement from 70% in May 2023 indicates steady recovery.
- Data reflects both office worker return and retail traffic in office buildings.
Looking ahead, industry experts are cautiously optimistic but remain vigilant. “We will watch closely to see if visitation rates increase, hold steady or decline during the summer in line with historic behavior,” DeCoster adds.
As the New York office market continues to evolve, stakeholders will be keenly observing these trends. The gradual return to office spaces could have far-reaching implications for the city’s economy, from local businesses that rely on office worker foot traffic to the valuation of commercial real estate assets.
For investors and business leaders, this data provides valuable insights into the changing dynamics of urban work environments and may inform strategic decisions regarding office space utilization and real estate investments in the post-pandemic era.