Residents sounded off on their perceptions of downtown in an international survey, with the majority of respondents describing it as a great city experience, though scores on walkability, personal safety, cleanliness and public transit access all fell below the national average. 

The global architect firm, the Gensler Research Institute, based in San Francisco, shared the results of “The Downtown Report: City Pulse 2026” at Downtown San Diego Partnership’s new event, The State of Downtown. 

Gensler’s report compared San Diego’s downtown experience to those all over the world and asked residents what they wanted to see downtown. Researchers looked at submissions from over 35,000 respondents, who were surveyed online between July and November 2025, and asked to evaluate 75 cities.

The results, presented before San Diego business, civic and philanthropic leaders on Sept. 15, could influence future downtown plans. In the survey, 74% of locals said downtown was a great experience, with even more, 87%, describing the city overall as a great experience.

That was much higher than the national average of 79% of respondents who said their city is a great experience.

Safety, however, is another issue for both San Diego respondents andd those in other cities. Local scores fell below the national average of 31% with just 27% of San Diegans feeling safe downtown. Cleanliness, too, was lower than the national average of 33%, with only 26% describing downtown San Diego as clean.

In response, Betsy Brennan, who leads the downtown partnership, asked attendees, as the San Diego Sun reported, “What does downtown need to thrive, and who do we need to bring together to make it happen?”

Gensler’s data highlighted the desire for more independent shops and cafes, after-hours events on weekdays that activate the area, mixed-use development and safety improvements. 

Some of those efforts are underway, like increased police presence in the Gaslamp. But others are taking longer to manifest, such as Civic Center revitalization, as well as broader efforts to activate outdoor spaces and create a possible arts district. 

Mixed-use development has already become more popular, as office-only downtowns suffered during the pandemic. For an active downtown people enjoy visiting and lingering in, Gensler said employment, culture, tourism, residential life and public space reinforce one another. 

While organizations like the Prebys Foundation and even the San Diego Community College District have expressed interest in revitalizing downtown, Mayor Todd Gloria noted one major setback: lack of funds. 

Already, city budget shortfalls ended the Fifth Avenue Promenade, a popular program blocking cars from the Gaslamp. Since the program’s end in 2023, brawls have become a regular feature on crowded sidewalks. 

Gloria, who spoke at the downtown partnership’s event, also said homelessness remained the most complex problem to solve. But Gloria, who lives downtown, argued that the daily reality of downtown does not match viral videos of violence. 

“What I see in my daily life,  with my own eyes, and what I see on social media are two different things,” said Gloria, according to the Sun. “You can tell your own downtown story or you can allow people who do not live or work or care about downtown to talk about downtown.”

The partnership did take note of cheaper, quicker interventions to improve the urban environment, like better lighting.