AHEAD Foot Traffic Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America's Largest Metros 2023
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Foot
Traffic
AHEAD
Ranking Walkable Urbanism
in America’s Largest Metros
2023
By:
Michael A. Rodriguez, AICP
Christopher B. Leinberger
Smart Growth America
Places Platform, LLC
Research Partners:
Rocktop Partners
Yardi Matrix
Smart Growth America empowers communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought
leadership to create livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity. We work with elected
officials at all levels, real estate developers, chambers of commerce, transportation and urban
planning professionals, and residents to improve everyday life for people across the country through
better development.
Places Platform, LLC is an information services company that provides a unified view of both
commercial and residential real estate. Our proprietary suite of analytics provides a contextualized
understanding of value, risk, and volatility in local real estate markets. Places Platform tells you what
“location, location, location” is actually worth.
Michael Rodriguez, AICP, is visiting research director at Smart Growth America and a doctoral
dissertator in urban policy at the George Washington University.
Christopher B. Leinberger is co-founder and managing director of Places Platform, LLC, original author
of the Foot Traffic Ahead series, Emeritus Professor, author, real estate developer and former co-
owner/President of RCLCo.
Special thanks to contributions by:
Jeff Adler Jeri Mintzer
Katharine Burgess Iman Mekonen
Becca Buthe Mark “Puck” Mykleby
Anaeto Chinemere Toccarra Nicole Thomas, AICP
Eric Cova Megan Wright COPYRIGHT © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
SMART GROWTH AMERICA & PLACES PLATFORM, LLC
Calvin Gladney Christopher Zimmerman
Jordan Howard Jamie Zouras
Tara Jeffcoat
Report under the direction of Christopher B. Leinberger.
The recommendations reflect the policy positions of Smart Growth America.
Graphic Design by:
Kristen Jeffers
(www.kristenejeffers.com)
Publication Date: January 2023
Smart Growth America
1152 15th St NW, Suite 450
Washington, DC 20005
Suggested Citation: Rodriguez, M.A. and C.B. Leinberger (2023). Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking America’s Largest Metros, 2023.
(Report). Washington: Smart Growth America and Places Platform, LLC. http://smartgrowthamerica.org/foot-traffic-ahead
Foot
Traffic
AHEAD
Table Of Contents
Introduction
and Methodology
Introduction 2
Methodology 12
Metropolitan Rankings 15
Social Equity 27
Case Studies 33
Future Momentum 39
Correlations 57
Conclusions 62
Appendix 68
Endnotes 72
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
INTRODUCTION Introduction
AND In spite of the changes to urban
areas brought on by the Covid-19
pandemic, the 2023 edition of Foot
Traffic Ahead’s research findings
Mixed-use, connected communities
are not solely instruments for
development and real estate
interests; they offer many benefits
Policy interventions are needed to
both protect existing affordability
and promote affordability for new
construction given the outsized
METHODOLOGY
demonstrate continued real estate to regions, cities, and the residents market demand for walkable
market and consumer preference who enjoy living in and accessing urbanism. Policymakers are
for walkable urbanism through these places. When designed to increasingly keen on many tactics
premiums in commercial rents, reflect the needs and experience of to address these issues, including
multifamily rental rates, and for- the community they serve, walkable supporting missing middle housing,
sale home prices, compared to places create an identity and sense zoning reform, form-based codes,
drivable alternatives. To illustrate of place for a community, they can and other policy remedies that
these preferences, Foot Traffic also positively impact public health, directly focus on affordability.
Ahead 2023 benchmarks the range climate resilience, safety, and,
of walkability in the 35 largest importantly, social justice and racial The lack of walkable places
metropolitan regions in the U.S. and equity. underscores the affordable housing
shows that the market is continuing crisis and overall cost of living
to seek more well-connected, But these benefits are not a crisis that nearly every major
walkable neighborhoods. This given. One common consequence metropolitan area in the U.S. is
report shows that the demand of communities with walkable currently facing. Housing in the
for walkable, well-connected real urbanism is that they become very locations where it is most
estate far exceeds supply; and this unattainable as rising prices only needed—such as transit-served
imbalance underscores the urgency allow those who can afford high- and infill locations—remains
of policy reform to deliver more cost housing to access the benefits challenging to deliver on account
mixed-use, mixed-income housing of these spaces. For example, our of restrictive zoning, lending
near transit, especially in the midst research finds that amenity-rich policy, and pandemic-era supply
of today’s housing access crisis. walkable urbanism often comes chain and labor issues. Some
at a premium due to limited of these barriers to delivering
At Smart Growth America (SGA), supply—it comprises generally less housing originate from the legacy
our work supports our vision of a than 5% of a region’s land—and of exclusionary zoning and land
country where no matter where that poses challenges for housing use policies, which compound
you live, or who you are, you affordability and social equity.
can enjoy living in a place that is 50
healthy, prosperous, and resilient. PRICE PREMIUMS FOR
WALKABLE URBANISM
While places with smart growth VS. DRIVABLE SUB-URBAN, 2021
elements may each look different, 40
we see many common ingredients
including homes of many sizes 30
and price points in an interplay
with job locations, offices, retail 20
establishments of all sizes, small
businesses, parks, and civic spaces.
All of these are brought together 10
in an accessible, welcoming
environment scaled for people to 0
OFFICE RETAIL MULTIFAMILY FOR-SALE
easily get around. RENTAL HOUSING
Source: Smart Growth America; Yardi Matrix; REIS Moody’s; Rocktop Partners
•2 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Introduction Introduction
segregation and decrease wealth-
building opportunities and social “Walkability” and Inclusive Language This 2023 Foot Traffic Ahead report
State of the Moment:
mobility for communities of color.
Unsurprisingly, this has caused This report analyzes the demand for housing and commercial
is unique because it presents to COVID-19 and Changing Markets
the public, local policymakers, and
many communities of color to space in urban areas that can be traversed without a car—a
have unequal access to the level of
urban researchers a systematic, As of production of this report, real estate markets are still in
benefit we believe that everyone should be able to access. data-driven glimpse into walkability flux as they react to the 2022 inflationary environment, rising
safe, affordable, and amenity-rich
housing that is available to other
To explain our findings, we often use the terms “walkability” at the metropolitan level, and interest rates, and concerns around a possible recession. We
and “walkable” to describe places that can be conveniently supporting metrics about how recognize that data in this report covers U.S. Census data
communities.
traveled by those using sidewalks, trails, and paths, whether markets respond. Using the most through 2020, and market data through 2021. Thus, many
Additionally, it is important to note one is walking, using assistive devices like wheelchairs or current market and U.S. Census
metrics are still “mid-pandemic” and we acknowledge that
the unique circumstances of the walkers, pushing strollers, or using some other means to get data (generally from 2020 to 2021),
we see that walkability continues
markets like office, retail, and housing are still evolving to new
moment. With the onset of the around without a car. Much of the data in this report utilizes
to be a vital urban form that not conditions.
Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the
information from the U.S. federal government which groups only improves quality of life, but
landscape of many neighborhoods
people using assisted mobility devices in the same category improves the fiscal performance of
shifted dramatically. Many
neighborhoods transformed, in as those that walk to travel, making it challenging to isolate cities and of real estate assets.
access and the impact on people with disabilities. We continue
We hope this work, and
some cases temporarily, and in
to look for data that would allow us to better analyze access By surveying the inventory of the recognition of market,
other cases more permanently.
Central business districts that includes people of all ages and abilities who choose to office, retail, multifamily rental, and regulatory, and cost barriers
for-sale housing space across the to walkability, can ultimately
experienced significantly reduced walk, bike, or use assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers.
largest 35 metros, and advancing a
activity with pandemic-induced lead to the continued uptake
systematic approach to measuring
telecommuting—creating high of walkable urban places and
walkability at the census-block
vacancy in the downtown office and policy changes that foster the
group (CBG) level, we observe
retail markets that still endures.
Meanwhile, small businesses, local This year’s Foot Traffic are not mutually exclusive. There is a set of rankings spanning from delivery of more affordable,
not an inherent tradeoff between the New York region as our “most accessible walkable places.
parks, and local amenities became Ahead report is an especially walkability and equitable access walkable” region this year, down
critical hubs as many households important one, as it analyzes to walkable neighborhoods. We to metro Las Vegas as the lowest.
limited travel and out-of-home
contact. a critical point in the found some cities with high cost of When considering what we call
midst of the pandemic in living where well-connected transit the “Future Momentum” of these
Not surprisingly, the pandemic systems connected a broad range of regions, we see that all regions have
altered patterns in commercial
2020 and 2021, with the people to economic opportunities great opportunities to enhance
real estate and housing, and it timeline including the initial in walkable areas; and we find walkability through key policy
tempered, though did not undo, recognition of Covid-19 smaller cities with diverse and changes like allowing for more
many of the price premiums affordable walkable areas. When mixed-use density all throughout
by the World Health
enjoyed by walkable urban real we look at equity across our three the region, connecting people and
estate. Every region still had a price
Organization (WHO) and the dimensions, many regions can be economic activity via quality transit
premium for office and multifamily subsequent Omicron wave. quite affordable for the walkability and pedestrian infrastructure, and
products, and most had a premium they have. Ultimately, regions focusing on local affordability at the
in for-sale housing despite some should take strides to encourage neighborhood level.
downward trends since 2019. In We examine these and other the development of more walkable
some ways the housing affordability factors in the Social Equity section areas. We also call attention to
crisis in walkable areas worsened of this report, where we measure the heightened challenges to
given that the pandemic-era equity along affordability, transit, affordability in areas with more
supply chain and labor challenges and walkability access dimensions. access to transit and proximity to
have further exacerbated housing There, our findings uncover that walkability.
our Foot Traffic Ahead walkability
undersupply.
rankings and Social Equity rankings
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 3• • 4 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Introduction Introduction
People Continue to Choose Walkable
Urban Places
While the dominant narrative describing our regions’ economies, include five more metropolitan Across regions, these market generally less than 5% of a region’s physical spread of a region’s
during the Covid-19 pandemic and we need more comprehensive regions in our rankings. In this indicators show that walkable land nearby, housing can be walkable places. Unfortunately,
has been about fears around categories. Measures of both urban report, Smart Growth America and urban places continue to be where unaffordable. Our Social Equity regions have more demand for
urban density and flight from form and economic function are Places Platform, LLC have ranked the knowledge economy—sectors indicators discussed later in this walkability than they do supply,
cities, we analyze data that critical to move beyond the old each metro area by percent of real depending on information rather report acknowledge this and the and this scarcity makes the current
suggest regionally-significant city versus suburb division. Thus, estate inventory, square footage, than goods production—prefers to need for accessible and affordable housing access crisis all the more
walkable urban places, referred this edition of Foot Traffic Ahead and walkable urban development locate. The walkable urban places development in walkable areas . acute in well-connected, walkable
to as “WalkUPs,” and walkable continues to use the urban form status using data about three have been resilient to the Covid-19 areas, underlining the need for
neighborhoods are economically dichotomy of “walkable urban” and product types (office, and rental pandemic, though there was a Our Future Momentum rankings policy interventions to safeguard
resilient. Our research maps these “drivable sub-urban.” Either of these multi-family products; and for “bump in the road” for some of also look at the location in which affordability.
places and assesses walkable and urban forms of development can the first time, for-sale housing). them, particularly office-dominated markets may be headed in the
drivable sub-urban places for the occur in both a metro’s central city Additionally, we now account for downtowns. future, and we devote a specific
largest 35 metropolitan areas down and in the suburbs, so the division how geographically distributed a section to the still-ongoing impacts
to the Census Block Group (CBG) between central city versus suburbs metro area’s walkable places are When exploring our data we find of the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall,
level. has less meaning than most analysts compared to its size, which can price premiums for multifamily we find that people still prefer
ascribe. illustrate how easy/effortlessly rental and for-sale housing for walkable urbanism as reflected via
For decades, many have thought residents can access these places walkable urbanism across many market prices and leasing activity.
of the land in metropolitan areas This year’s edition has added and navigate daily life without a car. metros; and we acknowledge Furthermore we find benefits in
and areas outside it as divided dimensions to our approach and that premiums often translate to dense, walkable places existing
into central city and suburban. methodology for the Foot Traffic We also evaluate the economic and increased housing costs, pushing throughout a region rather than
However, emerging 21st century Ahead series. We now use several social performance of walkable these places out of reach for being concentrated in the region’s
development patterns suggest that different data sources, revised places as compared to the drivable many. Because walkable urban core; and we apply unique GIS-
this typology is less meaningful for methodological approaches, and sub-urban form of the metro area. development is scarce, occupying based measures to examine the
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 5• • 6 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Introduction Introduction
Form: Drivable Sub-Urban Function: How Location Impacts Local
neighborhoods, small-lot single
family homes, townhomes and on
up to high-rise condos, apartment
vs. Walkable Urban towers, and major mixed-use
development. Importantly, walkable
urban places are connected to
Economies
During the second half of the 20th growth, this model has fueled the
the broader regional economy via This report assesses and Each metropolitan area in the social centers, and police and fire
century, the now-familiar drivable demand for automobiles, drove
multiple transportation options categorizes two types of locations country has a suite of regionally stations. Jobs here tend to include
sub-urban development dominated road and highway construction,
supplementing automobile and economic functions within significant generators of economic school teachers, public safety jobs,
real estate development. These powered the oil and insurance
travel, such as bus, rail, bicycle, larger metropolitan areas: growth; in Seattle it is technology, grocery store personnel, bank staff,
areas are automobile-dependent, industries, and is the foundation
and walking. However, once one regionally significant and local- aerospace, and tourism; in Detroit local-serving lawyers, and smaller
have low density (between 0.05 of a large part of our financial
has arrived in such a place, most serving. Regionally significant it is automobiles; in Washington, medical practices.
to 0.5 floor area ratio or FAR)1, system. At the same time, this
destinations are within walking places are where the bulk of the DC it is government, technology,
and segregated land uses where development pattern created
distance (about a half mile). wealth-creating economic growth and tourism. Without these Locally serving jobs tend to
different product types (office, significant levels of racial and class
The most successful walkable of a metropolitan area is located. regionally significant economic be dispersed throughout the
apartments, for-sale housing, segregation, compounding lack of
places tend to feature elements Regionally significant areas functions, metropolitan areas metropolitan area and follow
industrial, etc.) are separated from wealth-building opportunities and
of Complete Streets,3 such as bring new revenues from outside shrink in population and offer fewer residential housing locations and
each other. Usually, these places are inequalities that endure to this
narrower street widths, safer the metro area, and are where opportunities to residents. We find local population growth. Many
connected by roads and highways day.2 It also created significant fiscal
design, grade-separated bike industries and organizations with that in the largest 35 metropolitan local serving jobs tend to pay
designed for medium- or high-speed burdens on local jurisdictions’ tax
lanes, landscape treatments, and “base” or “export” jobs locate.4 Jobs areas, roughly one-third of all less than regionally significant
traffic for cars and trucks. By the base, as Smart Growth America’s
multimodal transportation options. in these industries produce goods jobs are in regionally significant jobs and can be highly dependent
1980s, only a few regions had other fiscal impact models throughout the
or services that are sold to other locations. upon regionally significant jobs.
well-connected and predictable country have illustrated.
Walkable urban places encompass regions or abroad, responsible for Known as the “ripple effect,” as an
public transportation systems.
a range of densities from modest the wealth of the region. The retail In contrast, locally serving places additional regionally significant job
By the mid-1990s, starting with the
densities (floor area ratios or FARs centers here tend to have a larger are predominantly residential is added, one to three local-serving
We have come to know this initial redevelopment of downtown
of 1.0-3.0) towards dense walkable customer base throughout the with complementary commercial jobs are created, and vice versa.6
driveable sub-urban development and downtown adjacent walkable
places with FARs of 4.0 to 20, while region and may often be tourist development such as grocers, An example would be how one
as “sprawl,” and it has become a urban places, supported by the
the highest walkable urban place is destinations. Regionally significant drug stores, small medical offices, large corporate office building can
well-accepted part of metropolitan New Urbanism and Smart Growth
Midtown Manhattan at 40 FAR. places tend to concentrate one-of- and bank branches. They also support jobs in local lunch eateries,
America and areas around the movements, and further sparked
a-kind cultural, educational, and have local pre-K-12 schools, caterers, and facilities maintenance
world. As mentioned above, the by public policy initiatives, there
Form-based codes (a legally binding sports assets, such as museums, community-centered activity and services.
drivable sub-urban form can be has been renewed market demand
land use regulation) are a way stadiums, and research universities.
found in both our suburbs as well as for walkable urbanism—a return
our center cities. For example, many to the urban forms that were to support the more efficient
development of a range of housing Regionally significant jobs tend RANGE OF HIGHEST DENSITIES FOUND IN WALKUPS
parts of San Francisco are quite predominant prior to 20th century
typologies and product types to concentrate geographically, a 40
sub-urban in nature, while relatively drivable sub-urban expansion. As
to allow for flexible mixed-use force known as “agglomeration,”5
high density can be found in many previous editions of Foot Traffic
development by using physical and results in the fact that most 35
communities in the New England Ahead have shown, walkable urban
of a metropolitan area’s income
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)
towns surrounding Boston. places are where much, though not form—rather than separation of 30
is generated in its regionally
all, of the knowledge economy has uses—as the primary basis and
significant locations. Despite the 25
Most real estate developers and chosen to locate and the emerging focus for the code and standards.
recent rise of companies allowing
investors, government regulators, “experience economy” seems to be Walkable urban places tend to 20
their employees to work from
and financiers are familiar with the following suit. have mixed-use product types home in response to the Covid-19 15
drivable sub-urban model; it has combining office, rental and pandemic, this has so far caused
remained a successful development Walkable urban places have condominium apartments, and relatively minor impacts. 10
formula, a tradable commodity, and substantially higher densities hotels with retail on the ground
macroeconomic driver of economic than drivable sub-urban places, floor. 5
growth. In addition to real estate ranging from pre-auto traditional
0
AUSTIN SAN FRANCISCO NEW YORK CITY
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 7• • 8 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Introduction Introduction
Form/Function Matrix Findings of Foot Traffic Ahead 2023
Combining the two metropolitan richer view of our metro areas that Drivable sub-urban land use Our findings underscore a rental and for-sale price premiums Plus, walkable urbanism can
forms (drivable sub-urban and accounts for places ranging from comprises the vast majority of continued trend whereby walkable and market share gains, indicating improve quality of life and economic
walkable urban) and the two core downtowns to neighborhoods a metropolitan region’s land, urbanism has become the dominant continued pent-up demand for opportunity for low-income
economic functions (regionally that have plenty of amenities but do including housing subdivisions, factor in current and future real walkable urbanism into the future. households, with high opportunity
significant and local serving) results not serve a large, regional function. rural land, and drivable sub-urban estate development across major jobs, civic, and recreational facilities
in a simple four-cell matrix of office complexes. U.S. metros. This is in spite of some in close proximity to home without
metropolitan land use. The Form/
We see that walkable
setbacks caused by the Covid-19 Walkable urbanism requiring the expense and hassle of
Function Matrix, shown below, pandemic, which we explain in our car ownership.
defines all of the land use options urbanism is confined Pandemic Impact section. will provide as fruitful
available for a metropolitan area, However, walkable development
broken down into four “types” to a very small amount The walkable urban trend is not
an economic base can only be built with appropriate
numbered I to IV.7 of space ranging from confined to coastal metros, those for the 21st century infrastructure, zoning, and financing
with large pre-1940 inventory mechanisms at the federal, state,
New to the Foot Traffic Ahead less than 5% of a of walkable urban product, or economy as drivable and local levels, increased skills
series, this report now adds metropolitan region’s knowledge economy superstar
sub-urbanism did for and experience by the real estate
measurement of Type II (walkable metros. Walkable urbanism exists development community as well
neighborhoods) in addition to Type land mass, or only 1.2% in every state, across all regions, the late 20th century as continued community outreach
I (WalkUPs) that were the focus of on average for the largest and while we focus on the 35 and support for walkable urban
previous editions. This gives us a largest metropolitan areas, it and will be far more development.
35 metropolitan areas. exists in smaller towns across rural
America as well. No one industry
environmentally
defines these metropolitan areas, resilient by enabling
though they tend to be hubs for the
growing knowledge economy. lifestyles that use
REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT LOCAL SERVING far fewer carbon
The trends in this report can
TYPE I
WALKUPS
TYPE II
WALKABLE
be dramatic as shown by both emissions via less
significant rental price premiums of
(Walkable Urban Places) NEIGHBORHOOD
walkable urban over drivable sub-
per-capita household
Metro Land Area: Metro Land Area: urban product as well as substantial energy use and
Top 35 avg. 0.2% Top 35 avg. 1.0% walkable urban market share
Range of metro area: Range of metro area: gains at the expense of drivable emissions from
WALKABLE
URBAN
0.1% - 0.5% 0.1% - 6.2% sub-urban product. WalkUPs and
walkable neighborhoods both have
driving.8
TYPE III TYPE IV
DRIVE-INS DRIVABLE
SUB-URBAN
Metro Land Area: Metro Land Area:
Top 35 avg. 5.2% Top 35 avg 93.7%
Range of metro area: Range of metro area:
DRIVABLE
SUB-URBAN
1.9% - 23.3% 75.6% - 97.9%
Source: Smart Growth America; Places Platform LLC
Places Platform refers to the Form/Function Matrix as the Places Lens™
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 9• • 10 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Methodology
Introduction
Walkability
desires of residents, form-based • A glossary to ensure the
codes have emerged as a regu- precise use of technical terms
latory framework to guide such • Other elements such as
and Form- growth. While not a one-size-fits-
all approach, form-based codes
are helping diverse communities
architectural, landscaping,
signage, and environmental
standards can also be included
Foot Traffic Ahead uniquely brings together data on the built environment, community demographics, and market
characteristics using a range of sources. We use government and private sector data sources through year-end 2020 and
2021, as available due to differing data release windows.
Based Codes unlock a vision for vibrant, hu-
man-scaled environments; how- Form-based codes often result
This report shows that people
ever, barriers such as political
fear stand in the way of adopting
in an increase in property values,
because the kinds of places
Data Sources
want to live in vibrant, mixed-use form-based codes, hindering the they create are both in demand
communities that provide a vari- creation of great people-oriented and scarce, as illustrated by the Research Partners American Enterprise Institute Walkability and transit data from:
ety of mobility options as well as a places. findings of Foot Traffic Ahead. In Housing Center, Walkable Oriented U.S. EPA Smart Location Database
variety of housing types. However, some cases, form-based codes Form-Function typology method Development Database (2022) (2021)
these types of places are in very A form-based code uses physical can add to the toolbox to retain and data provided by: Places
short supply due to the zoning form—rather than the separation existing residents and businesses Platform, LLC, PlacesLens™ (2021) Commercial Data Census Block Groups (CBG)
decisions of communities. In most of uses—as the organizing princi- by leading to the development of from: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER
parts of the U.S., new develop- ple. To be a true form-based code, a wider variety of housing types Office, multifamily, and industrial Retail inventory, rent, vacancy, and Shapefiles (2020)
ment is limited to low-density the following elements must be including apartments and missing inventory, rent, vacancy, and absorption data provided by: REIS
single-family homes: in fact, it “is included:10 middle units, as determined by absorption data provided by Yardi Moody’s (2017 to year-end 2021). Employment data from: U.S. Census
illegal on 75 percent of the resi- SGA’s research project, Zoned In.11 Matrix (2017 to year-end 2021). Bureau LODES (through year-end
dential land in many U.S. cities to • A regulating plan (or map) Government Data: 2019)
build anything other than a de- that designates the locations Foot Traffic Ahead finds that there For-sale housing price data and
tached single-family home.”9 This where different building form is both significant demand and research provided by Rocktop Population, housing tenure, race, Gross domestic product (GDP)
phenomenon has been codified standards apply limited supply of walkable, mixed- Partners, LLC (2018 to year-end educational attainment, housing for metropolitan areas from: U.S.
through “Euclidean zoning,” named • Public standards that outline use environments across the U.S. 2021). units, and housing burden from: Bureau of Economic Analysis,
after the 1926 U.S. Supreme Court specific elements in the public Form-based codes are an import- U.S. Census Bureau, American (2020) and Places Platform, LLC
case, which is the most common realm, such as sidewalks, ant tool that can lead to the devel- Destination points of interest data Community Survey 5-year (for CBG imputation).
type of land use regulation in the travel lanes, on-street parking, opment of more well-connected, provided by: estimates (through 2020).
U.S. and separates development street trees, and furniture vibrant environments and retain
Data Limitations
by uses such as residential, com- • Building standards controlling affordability by encouraging the
mercial, and institutional. the features configurations, development of a wider range of
facade design and functions of housing types.
As communities across the buildings It should be noted that the Foot Traffic Ahead series, including this 2023 report, does not account for a metro
country seek to manage growth • A clearly defined and area’s owner-user commercial space. Owner-user space is real estate that is owned and occupied by a business,
in a sustainable, equitable way, streamlined application and government institution, or nonprofit organization. Many organizations own and occupy their own real estate,
and accommodate the changing project review process such as the federal, state, and local governments, universities, medical centers, and large corporate offices and
factories. Thus, these spaces do not appear in a commercial real estate data set that is based on leasing activity.
We estimate that possibly 30% to 40% of the U.S. commercial real estate market is of this type, though no one
knows for certain since there is no national database of owner-user space.
Secondly, the Moody’s retail data was limited by lack of retail data for the New York and Virginia Beach metros.
We have retail rental data for 33 of the 35 metros which are used in this report for rent premiums. We impute
New York and Virginia Beach retail inventory based on relationships with retail employment.
Finally, while we had data for inventory and absorption going back to 2017, rent price data was only available
starting in 2018. Our for-sale housing dataset also starts in 2018.
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 11 • • 12 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023
Methodology Methodology
STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4: STEP 5:
Defining Defining Defining Vetting Ranking The Metros
Regions Regional Walkability Definitions
And Geography Significance We use two data sources to define
The walkable urbanism rankings in The Foot Traffic Ahead Index
We recognize that no one the 35 largest metros are based on represents the share of our product
walkability. First, we use the EPA
methodology or data-oriented the share of combined office, retail, types in walkable urbanism,
Our study looks at the 35 largest We use several data points at the Smart Location Database 2021
approach can be a perfect view of multifamily, and for-sale housing weighted to reflect the product
metropolitan statistical areas CBG level in order to define what National Walkability Index (NWI),14
what people perceive as walkability that is located in walkable urbanism mix that is in walkable urbanism.
(MSAs) based on population per we mean by regional significance. which is based primarily on inter-
or regional significance. For this (either Type I or Type II). For these This mix weighs commercial space
the 2020 U.S. Census American There were several “tests” whereby section density, transit proximity,
report, the SGA and Places Platform product types, we report each (office, multifamily rental, and
Community Survey (5-year). For a CBG could qualify as regionally and land use mix. Secondly, we use
team convened a group of regional individual share and a combined retail) more than for-sale housing,
the purposes of this report, we have significant. A CBG would be defined AEI Walkable Oriented Develop-
experts to provide “ground truth” to share. as compared to the region as a
made two important adjustments as such if it meets any one or more ment (WOD) data,15 which defines
the data in each of the MSAs. Based whole. These weights were selected
based on the manner in which real of these three tests: path-based half-mile buffers around
on this process, we adjusted the To develop our Foot Traffic Ahead because they more accurately
estate markets interact. For the important points of interest. We
regional significance or walkability Index (FTA Index, or Current reflect the form and function of
Los Angeles-Long Beach MSA, Test 1 - Major Points of Interest: CBG developed a separate “WOD Index”
definition for about 9% of the CBGs Index) for our final rankings, we walkable urbanism.
we have appended the Riverside- contains a significant part of a U.S. based on this data, which is the
out of 110,989 in the data set. This weigh each share by the region’s
San Bernardino MSA and refer military installation;13 or a large- or share of a CBG that is considered a
finalized our typology definitions. product mix in Type I and Type II For informational purposes, we also
to it as “Los Angeles.” For the San medium-sized airport; or a higher- WOD weighted by the number of
respectively, and for a combined provide breakouts by Type I and
Francisco-Oakland MSA, we have education institution with at least points of interest present. Again, we
Type I plus Type II. The combined Type II rankings in the Appendix.
appended the San Jose-Sunnyvale- 1,000 students. have three tests, and a CBG could
walkable urbanism shares are the
Santa Clara MSA and refer to it be defined as walkable if it met any
basis of our Foot Traffic Ahead Index.
as “San Francisco.” For analysis Test 2 - Jobs and Economics: one or more of these three tests.
We translate this index to be a
purposes, we use the most recent CBG Is in the metro area’s top 2.5% range from 0 to 100 with a mean
2020 U.S. Census Block Group in terms of job density; or GDP Test 1 - EPA NWI: CBG is in the top
of 50, and use this index for our
(CBG) definitions as the core unit of share; or net inflow of regional 15% of its metro’s CBGs by NWI.
rankings.16
analysis.12 employees based on commute
patterns. Test 2 - WOD Index: CBG is in the
top 15% of its metro’s CBGs by
Test 3 - Real Estate: CBG has at least WOD Index; and has an intersection
1.2 mil. sq. ft. of office space; or density above the national median.
340,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
Test 3 - CBG is in the top 5% of its
metros’s CBGs by WOD and has a
NWI that the EPA considers “walk-
able” (equal to 10.51, which EPA
states is above average).
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 13 • • 14 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023Metropolitan Rankings
This study identifies walkable urban areas in the 35 largest U.S. metropolitan regions—and ranks the regions according to
their current walkable urbanism.
Small Size, Big Benefits
The 35 largest metropolitan areas well as number of residents, jobs, using SGA’s “fiscal impact tool” and
in the U.S. have a population of etc. far outperforms this small a collaboration with the U.S. EPA
165 million people, or about half percentage. on a forthcoming Fiscal Impact
of the U.S. population. While these Estimator tool, indicate that
35 metro areas make up a small When we add up our estimates of downtowns and walkable areas
percentage of land area (just 5.8%), GDP produced in each CBG, we are places that generate much of
they accounted for 55% of U.S. real find that walkable urbanism in the economic base and serve to
GDP in 2020. While 2020 was a the largest 35 metros accounts subsidize local serving, low-density
unique year for the economy due for 19.1% of all U.S. real GDP in areas such as Type IV drivable sub-
to the Covid-19 pandemic, these comparison to only being a tiny divisions.
shares are consistent with previous fraction of U.S. land, or 1.2%,17 and
Foot Traffic Ahead editions. contain 6.8% of the U.S. residential Walkable urbanism is where mixed-
population. Walkable urbanism use, higher-density development
Overall, Type I (WalkUPs) are plays a critical role in each metro is found, whether in downtowns,
about 0.2% of all the land in the region and for the nation as a whole. suburban town centers, innovation
largest 35 metros, while Type II districts, or high-amenity
(walkable neighborhoods) are Because walkable urbanism is neighborhoods. These places have
about 0.9%. Collectively, walkable where a large share of GDP is a high concentration of economic
urbanism accounts for about 1.2% produced, it also naturally accounts activity and jobs, as well as rental
of the land within the largest 35 for an outsized portion of a region’s and for-sale housing premiums, as
metropolitan areas. Their range tax revenues from both land values compared to drivable sub-urban
is widely different across metros, and other taxes like sales taxes, locations.
with walkable urbanism collectively restaurant food and beverage
accounting for between 0.1% to sales, and hotel occupancy taxes.
6.5% of regional land area among Previous SGA research with many
them. Their economic activity as cities and towns across the U.S.,
U.S. LAND U.S. U.S.
TOP 35 METROS TOP 35 METROS TOP 35 METROS
AREA POPULATION GDP
6.2%
METROPOLITAN 93.8% 50.2%
49.8%
Top 35 Metros
44.7% 55.3%
RANKINGS REST OF U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
REST OF U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
REST OF U.S.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
• 16 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023Metropolitan Rankings Metropolitan Rankings
Foot Traffic Ahead 2023 Rankings REGION RANK OFFICE
SHARE
MULTIFAMILY
RENTAL SHARE
RETAIL
SHARE
FOR SALE
SHARE
COMBINED
SHARE
FOOT TRAFFIC
AHEAD INDEX
About 16% of all office, multifamily tends to concentrate in walkable opposition has not allowed the New York 1 73.2% 70.3% 59.1% 17.9% 35.1% 100
rental housing, retail, and for- urban places in the most highly market to produce walkable urban Boston 2 47.3% 44.4% 11.2% 24.6% 27% 74.3
sale housing across these 35 ranked walkable urban metro areas. product without years of legal and
Washington, DC 3 55.6% 34.1% 12.4% 8.6% 15.5% 72.6
metros is in walkable urban places In metro New York City, 70% of all neighborhood battles.
(WalkUPs/Type I or Walkable multifamily rental inventory is in Seattle 4 60% 37.1% 19.4% 12.4% 18% 69.4
Neighborhoods/Type II). However, walkable urban places, followed The leader in walkable urban Portland 5 54.3% 36.7% 26.7% 20.8% 24.1% 68.5
there are significantly different by Chicago (45%) and Boston housing is Boston (24%), in part San Francisco 6 38% 35.4% 22.2% 21.2% 24% 66.2
proportions between these (44%). This high concentration because of the large percentage of Chicago 7 52.7% 44.8% 10.8% 15.2% 18.7% 65.9
different product types in walkable of multifamily rental housing pre-World War II homes built when
urban places. Office has the highest is particularly pronounced in the default development mode Los Angeles 8 42.3% 30.5% 21.3% 17.3% 19.6% 59
concentration in walkable urban Walkable Neighborhoods (Type II was walkable urban. Metro Boston Pittsburgh 9 51.4% 27.7% 6.6% 11.9% 14.3% 57.2
places by far (42.1% of all office places). is followed by metro New York,
Philadelphia 10 39.7% 25% 7.8% 16.2% 17.2% 55.1
in the largest 35 metro areas is in Portland, and San Francisco. It is
walkable urban places), followed by By contrast, retail space is more probable that this pre-World War Minneapolis-St. Paul 11 37.8% 30% 6.2% 9.8% 13.% 54.4
multi-family rental (30.4%), retail dispersed, with the walkable II housing stock will all be returned Miami 12 36.9% 24.7% 30.4% 14.3% 16.7% 54.2
(18.5%) and the lowest is for-sale urbanism share higher in certain to its walkable urban roots in most Charlotte 13 39.9% 14.3% 11% 2.2% 5.4% 51.7
residential (11.6%). Since about markets like New York (59%) and or all of these 35 metros over the
Austin 14 33.7% 19.9% 22% 6.7% 11% 50
80% of the square footage of these Miami (30%)—but it tends to be next decade or so, through the
four product types are for-sale lower across the board, with a addition of small scale retail and Atlanta 15 37.6% 15.1% 10.4% 2.7% 6.1% 49.4
housing, the weighted average weighted average of 19% across other commercial back into these Denver 16 33% 23% 6.5% 10.6% 12.6% 48.7
of all walkable urban space is these 35 metro areas. Part of the neighborhoods, which is followed Cleveland 17 37.4% 17.6% 6% 3.8% 6.4% 47
substantially reduced. reason for the lower percentage by households investing substantial
of walkable urban retail is the sums in rehabilitation of these Houston 18 38.5% 13.4% 7.2% 5% 7.7% 46.6
This wide product mix difference difficulty of building big box retail houses. Columbus 19 36.5% 11.3% 11.4% 5% 8% 46
has been pronounced by the in walkable urban places, although Baltimore 20 33.1% 18.8% 8.2% 7.8% 10% 44.7
pandemic; for example, the “work some companies like Target, Best It is important to note that planning
from home” phenomenon has Buy, and even Home Depot’s for, financing, and constructing Kansas City 21 31.1% 12.8% 6.3% 2.7% 5% 44.1
particularly hurt the office product Manhattan locations have made walkable urban development is Nashville 22 34.5% 13.7% 2% 4% 5.9% 43.5
type in general. Office space tends progress in doing so. fundamentally different from St. Louis 22 33.3% 20.2% 5.4% 7.1% 8.8% 43.5
to strongly favor walkable urban drivable sub-urban development.
Sacramento 24 30.5% 7.3% 4.9% 4.5% 6% 40.4
places in some of the top metro Finally, these 35 metros tend to There are very different skill
areas in our rankings—five cities, all have less (16%) of their for-sale sets for these two approaches Cincinnati 25 30.5% 11.1% 6.2% 3.9% 5.7% 40
in the Top 10, had the majority of housing stock in walkable urban to real estate; different site Detroit 26 24.4% 8.7% 0.8% 1.9% 3.3% 39.2
their office space in walkable urban places, which takes the form of acquisition, construction, zoning, Dallas-Fort Worth 27 24.4% 10.8% 8% 3.4% 5.8% 38.9
places: New York, Washington, small lot single-family homes, transportation, parking, financing,
San Diego 28 15% 13.1% 5.8% 8.4% 8.9% 37
DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, townhouses, and attached condos. management, and investment time
and Seattle. In the case of metro This reflects the overwhelming horizons. If a drivable sub-urban Indianapolis 29 23.9% 7.3% 5.5% 1.9% 3.5% 36.4
New York City, a staggering 73% late 20th century drivable sub- developer or investor, using the Tampa 30 21.1% 11.7% 5.1% 6.6% 7.4% 35.4
of all office space in the region is urban homebuilding patterns and decades of drivable sub-urban Virginia Beach 31 17.5% 6.3% 14.3% 2.6% 4.4% 34.5
in walkable urban places, due to especially zoning, which mandated “rules of thumb”, tried to use their
Phoenix 32 17.9% 9.3% 3.8% 1.7% 3.2% 33.6
the preponderance of corporate only sprawl as the default mode experience to build a walkable
headquarters, the largest finance of housing development in many urban development, they would Orlando 33 19.8% 8.4% 6.3% 3.7% 5% 32.4
concentration in the world, and communities. Drivable sub-urban fail spectacularly. This is the San Antonio 34 15.1% 5.5% 5.2% 2.3% 3.3% 29.4
the second largest technology housing takes up by far the largest reason why for-sale homebuilding
Las Vegas 35 6.5% 4.4% 7.4% 1.4% 2.5% 27.5
concentration, all of which tend to amount of land in these 35 metros, companies tend to have different
demand walkable urban places. approximately 90%, and the operating divisions to build drivable WT. AVG 42.1% 30.4% 18.5% 11.7% 16.3% 22.6
Multifamily rental housing also low density zoning and NIMBY sub-urban product versus walkable
urban product.
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 17 • • 18 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023Metropolitan Rankings Metropolitan Rankings
Level 1: Highest Walkable Urbanism
New York The most walkable urban metros The New York City metro rail systems with some notable non-
Boston tend to be on the coasts, with area is ranked first for current transit town centers in urbanizing
Washington, DC the notable exception of metro walkable urbanism, as it has been suburbs like Santana Row in San
Seattle Chicago. These are the largest in all previous editions of Foot Jose.
concentrations of knowledge Traffic Ahead. New York has a
Portland
economy industries driving the U.S. reputation as a walkable urban Metro Portland and Seattle share
San Francisco
economy, including technology, metro; however, much of that a Northwestern environmental
Chicago finance, tourism and professional reputation is based on the city’s commitment that encourages
Los Angeles services. Many metro areas at the core, especially Manhattan. Much walkable urbanism, which is
top of this list have large, historic of the surrounding metro area generally understood to be a top
Range for Walkable Urban rail transit networks and a history is substantially less walkable in approach to addressing climate
Shares in Top 35 MSAs of more compact urbanism that northern New Jersey, Long Island, change. This environmental
predates 1940, when the default and the southern Hudson Valley. consciousness also resulted
As a percentage mode of development was walkable in the only two “urban growth
of the entire market urbanism. They also have relatively Washington, DC has a rail network boundaries”18 in the largest 35
less late 20th century drivable that started being built in the late metros, limiting drivable sub-urban
sub-urban development. Boston, 1970s but continued to expand sprawl and focusing on transit-
Office: 38-73%
Washington, DC, Chicago, and for the past 50 years, resulting oriented development (TOD).19
Retail: 11-59%
San Francisco are consistently at in a dispersion of walkable urban
Multifamily: 31-70% the top of U.S. regions in terms of places throughout the region. Lastly, Los Angeles ranks as number
For-Sale: 9-25% transit ridership which enables This resulted in the walkable eight in our FTA Index. This may
Combined: 16-33% much of the walkable urbanism and urban transformation of the come as a surprise because it is
transit-oriented development these suburbs, including Tysons, VA, the often associated with freeways and
regions have. prototypical drivable “Edge City’’ of car culture. However, it is the most
the 1980s which now has Metrorail densely populated metro in the
stations that are a catalyst for U.S. and there is an understanding
walkable urban building. This that they have reached the limit of
The New York City metro urbanization of the suburbs is also freeway expansion as a part of their
Office
area is ranked first for current a key momentum trend for future transportation system. However,
80% walkable urbanism, as it has been walkable urbanism. the LA region had the longest rail
in all previous editions of Foot transit system in the world in 1945,
60% Traffic Ahead. New York has a Among the top metros, transit which was eliminated by 1962.
40% reputation as a walkable urban emerges as a key thread. Metro The region has recently built, and
metro; however, much of that Chicago shows walkable urbanism continuing expansions to, a new
20% reputation is based on the city’s along its Metra and CTA network regional transit system, investing
0% core, especially Manhattan. Much extending far past the center city. In $180 billion of locally-raised funds.
For-Sale of the surroundingMultifamily
metro area metro Boston, the T transit system Many walkable urban places like
is substantially less walkable in anchors walkable urbanism in both downtown Los Angeles, downtown
northern New Jersey, Long Island, the city and urbanized suburbs, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Burbank,
and the southern Hudson Valley. like Cambridge and Somerville, Long Beach, and Riverside, were
and commuter rail network links originally laid out as walkable
Washington, DC has a rail network New England-style town centers urban places which are now the
that started being built in the late throughout the region. The San core of their new walkable urban
Retail
1970s but continued to expand Francisco Bay Area (which we development.
Source: Smart Growth America;
for the past 50 years, resulting in a include with San Jose), benefits
Places Platform LLC
dispersion of walkable urban from the BART, Caltrain, and MUNI
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 19 • • 20 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023Metropolitan Rankings Metropolitan Rankings
Level 2: Upper-Middle Walkable Urbanism
Pittsburgh The second grouping in our walk- explore this idea further, and lift up dominated by drivable sub-urban
Philadelphia able urbanism rankings is one that communities which have preserved development for a half century, are development. Limited walkable
Minneapolis-St. Paul is heavily based on the inclusion of affordability in the context of walk- now adding WalkUPs and walkable urbanism outside of downtowns
Miami Type II Walkable Neighborhoods, ability, in our Social Equity section. urban neighborhoods. have been the centers of master
new in this year’s Foot Traffic planned communities,20 especially
Charlotte
Ahead. The real estate and develop- Many of these walkable The Miami region, like Los Angeles, Woodlands and Sugarland.
Austin
ment markets have re-discovered neighborhoods saw significantly shares a history of an initial early
Atlanta early 20th century housing stock more foot traffic during the 20th century boom around rail Austin has emerged as one of the
Denver in the central city, which was built pandemic, as knowledge employees transit in urban towns such as top metro areas in the country for
Cleveland as walkable urban neighborhoods worked from home and began to West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort technology and entertainment,
Houston initially but reverted to Type IV regularly frequent local businesses Lauderdale, Coral Gables as well as building on its previous
drivable sub-urban districts as for everyday needs on weekdays. downtown Miami. Atlanta stands foundational developments: the
Range for Walkable Urban walkable retail left during the As many office-based organizations out as a unique example in this tier state capital and the University
Shares in Top 35 MSAs late 20th century. These areas now operate with a hybrid model as a booming drivable sub-urban of Texas. The area has seen
re-emerged as walkable urban requiring two-to-four days in-office Sunbelt metro area that is finally extraordinary growth and a surge
As a percentage places due to the location of mod- per week, these walkable urban taking the advantage of its 1970s in housing prices during and since
ern commercial amenities, many neighborhoods will see increased MARTA rail transit system. The the pandemic. Most of the walkable
of the entire market
times occupying the very structures local-serving retail and increased success of transit-served Midtown urban places are in the downtown
that were retail establishments viability for a wider variety of and Buckhead was a precursor to or downtown-adjacent places other
Office: 33-51% 100 years ago. There has been a types of businesses, such as lunch- transit-oriented redevelopment of areas having only a few walkable
Retail: 6-30% re-emergence of “walkable villages oriented restaurants, coffee shops, Type I WalkUPs like the suburban places, such as the Mueller New
Multifamily: 13-30% within a big city” throughout the or stores catering to home business perimeter. One of the most Urbanism development on the site
Single Family Housing: 2-16% country, especially in these Level 2 needs. important models of infrastructure of the former airport, for example.
Combined share: 5-17% tier metros. Of course, we recog- repurposing, comparable to
nize that some of this revitalization Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are New York City’s High Line, is the Finally, metro Cleveland ranks
led to gentrification, as well as class at a near tie, underscoring that BeltLine, a 22-mile multi-purpose at the end of this tier, as it has
and social-based displacement; we these places have a combination trail that serves as an example generally only seen walkable urban
of Type I WalkUPs, particularly of building walkable urbanism development in the center city,
urban universities (University along alternative transportation focusing on downtown, downtown-
of Pennsylvania and Temple in corridors. adjacent places (The Flats), urban
Office Philadelphia; and University of commercial places (Ohio City)
Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon In Texas, Houston is usually and urban education places like
80% in Pittsburgh) and many Type II thought of as a classic example University Circle, anchored by
60% walkable neighborhoods from the of drivable sub-urbanism for Case-Western Reserve, world class
40% late 19th and early 20th centuries. 75 years, particularly since it is hospitals, and numerous museums.
20% Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul the energy capital of the world. Cleveland has limited rail transit,
0% are very comparable metros that However, downtown Houston which inhibits further walkable
For-Sale Multifamily have recently built and expanded has been slowly redeveloping urban development, but its Bus
rail transit, and have had significant while downtown-adjacent places Rapid Transit (BRT) HealthLine is an
success in attracting a highly (Midtown, 4th Ward, Museum example of expanding opportunity
educated workforce in recent years. Park), urban commercial (Montrose through greater transit investment.
and Texas Medical Center) and
Booming Sunbelt metros in this urban university (University
Retail level include Miami, Charlotte, Place around Rice University)
Source: Smart Growth America;
Austin, Atlanta, and Houston, all have exploded with recent
Places Platform LLC
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 21 • • 22 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023Metropolitan Rankings Metropolitan Rankings
Level 3: Lower-Middle Walkable Urbanism
Columbus Level 3 is divided between Midwest Columbia, Annapolis, and Towson. Ferndale are recent local suburban
Nashville metros repositioning their Metro St. Louis has a walkable models.
Baltimore historically industrial economies urban downtown, downtown-
Kansas City by redeveloping walkable urban adjacent places (Lafayette Park), In the Sunbelt, Dallas-Fort Worth,
places, and Sunbelt metros and urban university (Cortex, like Houston, is a longstanding
St. Louis
attempting to introduce walkable a highly successful Innovation example of drivable sub-urbanism
Sacramento
urbanism for the first time in District, and West End), but has over the past half century during
Cincinnati generations. The post-industrial limited growth of walkable urban its rapid expansion. However, there
Detroit metros of Columbus, Baltimore, places, confined to a few places like are many examples of WalkUPs
Dallas-Fort Worth Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati, University City, Kirkwood, and St. and walkable urban neighborhoods
and Detroit all have limited rail Charles. A competitive and similar in Dallas-Fort Worth that counter
Range for Walkable Urban transit, so they do not have a transit metro, Kansas City, is revitalizing this image, driven in large part
Shares in Top 35 MSAs catalyst for developing walkable its downtown and downtown- by extensive investment in rail
urbanism. Metro Columbus is adjacent walkable urban places, transit. Both downtowns in this
As a percentage ranked the highest in this level due such as Crossroads (focused on the dual metropolitan area have had
of the entire market to its knowledge-based economy arts) and River Market, and highly exceptional redevelopment over
centered around the Ohio State successful urban commercial places, the past two decades, like Dallas’
University and the state capitol. particularly Country Club Plaza, Uptown, the model public space
Office: 24-37%
Old Westport, and Southmoreland. Klyde Warren Park, Deep Ellum and
Retail: 1-11% Baltimore continues the Cedars. Metro San Diego, likewise,
Multifamily: 7-20% revitalization of its downtown- Metro Cincinnati is similar to St. has invested in a new light rail
Single Family Housing: 2-8% adjacent walkable areas like Inner Louis and Kansas City with limited system that has sparked significant
Combined share: 3-10% Harbor, Federal Hill, Fells Point, and rail transit and most walkable urban walkable urban development.
Locust Point. There has been limited places confined to downtown and The downtown is still revitalizing,
growth of walkable urban places exceptional downtown-adjacent but it is surrounded by healthy
outside of those areas, as more walkable urban places (particularly downtown-adjacent places (Marina,
focus has been placed on downtown Over-the-Rhine and downtown East Village, Little Italy), limited
Covington, KY) and WalkUPs in urban commercial areas (Hillcrest,
University Heights. There are Old Town, North Park), and
virtually no other walkable urban greenfield Liberty Station.
Office areas.
Metro Nashville is an economic
80% We see a resurgent economy boomtown which is driven by
60% in metro Detroit over the past technology and entertainment
40% decade, though starting at a much like Austin. Downtown
low ebb, driven by remarkable revitalization has been
20%
downtown revitalization which underway for 20 years and has
For-Sale 0% Multifamily further energized downtown- sparked downtown-adjacent
adjacent places (Mexicantown, redevelopment, such as East
Corktown, Lafayette Park) and End, Edgefield, and The Gulch.
urban university (Midtown) Finally, metro Sacramento has also
walkable places. The urbanization focused most of its walkable urban
of the suburbs in Detroit had been development in downtown and
Retail limited to downtown Birmingham downtown-adjacent places, such
for decades but the emerging as Midtown, Southside and Old
Source: Smart Growth America; downtowns of Royal Oak and Sacramento.
Places Platform LLC
Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023 23• • 24 Foot Traffic AHEAD 2023You can also read
