Seattle has one of the "stickiest" downtowns among U.S. cities, according to a new survey that asked residents how often they visit and how long they stay.

Why it matters: The findings are another sign of how Seattle is drawing people downtown after years of slow post-pandemic recovery.

State of play: Among the 34 U.S. cities included in Gensler's City Pulse 2026 report, Seattle had the fourth-highest "stickiness" score — a metric that combines visit frequency and length of stay.

• Gensler, a design, architecture and urban planning firm, surveyed 500 residents per city.

By the numbers: Among Seattleites, 54% said they visit downtown at least weekly, compared with 40% nationally.

• 35% of Seattle respondents said they often stay downtown longer than planned or visit because they enjoy spending time there, compared with 30% nationally.

What they're saying: "Downtown Seattle is not suffering from a visitation problem," Sofia Song, Gensler's global cities lead, told Axios. "People are showing up."

Between the lines: One of the city's strengths is its transit system.

• 76% of Seattle respondents said they were satisfied with their public transit, versus a national figure of 58%, Song said.

Yes, but: Seattle could do better at making its downtown more inviting at night and on weekends, the report suggests.

• Only 66% of Seattle respondents rated the city's downtown as "vibrant" at night, compared with 74% nationally. "That's a real gap there," Song said.

The big picture: Among all cities included in the report, Gensler found that fewer than half of residents visit their central business district weekly, while less than a third spend recreational time there.

• Phoenix came in dead last among the included U.S. cities, a which may reflect challenges including poor walkability and extreme heat.

Tell a friend

We're down to eight restaurants vying for the title of Seattle's best bánh mì, after a competitive first round of voting.

• Now, we need your help to determine our Final Four.

Catch up quick: All of our suburban contenders were knocked out in Round 1.

• In our closest matchup, Oh Yeah Banh Mi near Judkins Park narrowly edged out Yeh Yeh's in Lynnwood by just 15 votes.

Vote in our bracket by 2pm Thursday to help your favorite spot advance to the semifinals.

Vote here

A federal appeals court ruled last month that the University of Washington violated a professor's First Amendment rights in 2022 when it punished him for mocking the school's Indigenous land acknowledgment.

Why it matters: The court's amended ruling suggests public universities can't penalize professors for making fun of land acknowledgments.

• Land acknowledgments have become increasingly common on campuses nationwide.

Catch up quick: Computer science professor Stuart Reges included a statement in a 2022 syllabus that mocked UW's official acknowledgment of Coast Salish tribes.

• "I acknowledge that by the labor theory of property the Coast Salish people can claim historical ownership of almost none of the land currently occupied by the University of Washington," Reges' parody read.
• UW ordered Reges to remove the statement from his syllabus, according to court records. When he refused, administrators removed the statement, and later opened an investigation during which Reges' merit pay increase was put on hold.

Reges sued UW officials in 2022, alleging the university violated his First Amendment rights by retaliating against him for protected speech.

• A federal district court initially ruled for UW, rejecting Reges' First Amendment claims.

The latest: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's decision, siding with Reges.

• "Student discomfort with a professor's views can prompt discussion and disapproval. But this discomfort is not grounds for the university retaliating against the professor," the court wrote.

What they're saying: "I don't like land acknowledgments," Reges told UW's student paper, The Daily. "I think they're stupid. I think they're performative."

• UW spokesperson Victor Balta told Axios the university is reviewing the decision "and will be considering our options moving forward."

What's next: The case heads back to district court, where a judge will consider Reges' challenge to UW policy and decide whether he is entitled to any relief.

Share this story

🚍 Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is proposing a city sales tax increase to pay for expanded transit service, including more frequent buses. The measure would require voter approval. (KING 5)

🏗️ Seattle is moving to limit environmental appeals of rezones and other land-use changes, which supporters say could speed up home building. (CHS Capitol Hill Seattle Blog)

⛽️ Gov. Ferguson is rejecting a GOP request that he pause Washington's cap-and-trade law to help lower gas prices. The governor says it would be an inappropriate use of his emergency powers. (Washington State Standard)

🏞️ Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities and programs, including community centers and indoor pools, will be closed tomorrow for staff training, though parks, beaches, golf courses and several specialty facilities will remain open. (City of Seattle)

🅿️ Bellevue plans to end free street parking in parts of its urban core and introduce demand-based rates of $1 to $8 per hour, though a start date has not yet been announced. (Fox 13)

After hitting 85 degrees yesterday — the warmest day of the year so far — temperatures are set to fall sharply.

Driving the news: Weather that is more typical for June, with highs around 70 and cloud cover, is expected today and tomorrow, according to Jeff Michalski of the National Weather Service Seattle.

• On Friday and Saturday, a cooler system from the Gulf of Alaska will drive highs into the low 60s and bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms, he told Axios.
• Drier weather and sun breaks return Sunday.