How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time

Walkable Urban Cores – How Downtown can Save America

Posted May 12, 2013

In Columbus, Commercial, Retail, Santa Monica

Daily finance had an interesting interview with Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. Jeff Speck is an architect and city planner in Washington DC and served on the Mayor’s Institute on City Design. He also served on the Sustainability Task Force of the Department of Homeland Security.

Jeff focuses and explains the four areas that must be addressed to make a city more walkable. The walk must be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting, and how to achieve these qualities.

How do we convince Americans to walk, particularly in places where they don’t have to walk? The first step is to get people to say: Ok, I have cars, but maybe there are circumstance where I choose not to use it.

We’re seeing this play out right now in the old Uptown District here in Westerville, Ohio where city planners are make a valiant attempt to create a more walkable city core. I’ve seen many successful examples throughout America. In Santa Monica, 3rd Street Promenade comes to mind or Old Town in Pasadena.

Take a look at the link for new fresh ideas.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/05/04/four-keys-to-walkability-in-urban-areas/

Commercial realtor

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