Perspective
Looking for a Place to Sit Down in the City
As downtowns struggle to recover from the pandemic, author William Whyte’s insights about what attracts people to small urban places are more important than ever.
A person sits in a plaza on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 2021.
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/BloombergOn a sunny, brisk spring day two years ago, I walked along Washington, DC’s North Capitol Street on the way to Union Station, where I would catch a train. Realizing I had a few minutes to spare, I spotted an inviting bench between the sidewalk and an office building. I walked over and sat down, planning to soak in the sun for a few minutes before continuing my journey.
Alas, it was not to be.