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\n Mayor Muriel Bowser took the chance during the State of Downtown Forum 2026 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to address her successor and encourage them to support businesses in Downtown D.C.(WTOP\/John Domen)<\/p>\n
Business leaders in Downtown D.C. said they\u2019re worried about the direction of the area and the region, and that a potential recession could be on the horizon.<\/p>\n
\n Mayor Muriel Bowser took the chance during the State of Downtown Forum 2026 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to address her successor and encourage them to support businesses in Downtown D.C.(WTOP\/John Domen)<\/p>\n
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\n Mayor Muriel Bowser took the chance during the State of Downtown Forum 2026 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to address her successor and encourage them to support businesses in Downtown D.C.(WTOP\/John Domen)<\/p>\n
Overall foot traffic in the heart of Downtown D.C. started hot last year, thanks to the inauguration and return to office mandates, but as the year went on, things started to level off.<\/p>\n
The number of people who visited Downtown was up slightly in 2025 for those reasons, and with help from other major events such as WorldPride. But local business leaders said during Thursday\u2019s State of Downtown Forum they\u2019re worried about where things are going there and the rest of the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cFoot traffic in 2025 started with a sprint, but ended up crossing the finish line with a hobble,\u201d said Mark Simpson, director of planning and economic development for the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District.<\/p>\n
Trips to museums and Capital One Arena were up, while theater traffic was slightly down. Then he got to the matter of jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shouldn\u2019t say the R-word \u2014 recession \u2014 but the warning lights are flashing red,\u201d Simpson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe District overall has the unique and unenviable position of being the only jurisdiction among our neighbors that not only saw negative job growth last year, but is still below prepandemic levels,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the indications of the most recent data for \u201926 show that all of our municipalities are losing jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other BID leaders tried to argue that, while there\u2019s no \u201csilver bullet,\u201d there are what they called \u201cgolden BBs\u201d that can help with the turnaround. Multifamily housing growth has declined in recent years, far below the pace in Northern Virginia, but they tried to tout the opportunity that exists. They also highlighted the increased presence of large universities from around the country that are migrating to D.C.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey recognize the long-term investment and opportunity and value that comes from bringing their faculty, staff and alumni Downtown in the nation\u2019s capital,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cWe need to continue to build on these gains.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ebony Walton, the head of marketing for the Downtown BID, said remote work isn\u2019t going away completely, and Downtown businesses will need to find ways to adjust.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must become a magnet, finding other ways to draw people to our Downtown,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want people to choose to come Downtown. We want them to come for the joy, for the inspiration, to come and meander.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke last at the event, and though it was the Downtown business community in attendance, her message was pointed more toward whoever her successor might be. She warned specifically about neglecting Downtown businesses, crediting them for the city\u2019s most recent surge of economic growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Downtown is literally the golden goose that, for many years, made it possible for us to invest in world class city services,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She warned against \u201cbacktracking\u201d on public safety and policies that might attract more businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep fighting for how we grow as a city,\u201d Bowser said. \u201cWe cannot tax ourselves into prosperity. We have to create more jobs, more revenue and more opportunities for D.C. residents and businesses to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n