Table 2.
Neighborhood Characteristics
| High-Walkable | Low-Walkable | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Urban Form |
||||
| Street pattern | Merging grids | Grid | Curvilinear | Irregular/mixed |
| Pedestrian infrastructure | Sidewalks with buffers | Sidewalks with buffers | No sidewalks | No sidewalks |
| Average block size | 4.45 acres | 5.24 acres | 15.09 acres | 23.09 acres |
|
Housing Density |
||||
| Total area (acres, measured at census block level) | 106.9 | 104.9 | 513.1 | 623.6 |
| Total housing units in local study area (measured at census block level) | 1,547 | 1,233 | 511 | 421 |
| Net housing density (units/acre) | 14.47 | 11.74 | 0.99 | 0.67 |
|
Land Use |
||||
| Commercial centers | Integrated nodea | Integrated linearb | Externalc | Externalc |
| Time to commercial centersd | <5 min | <5 min | >15 min | >15 min |
Integrated refers to the combination of residential high density (i.e., 4 units/acre or higher) and compatible nonresidential land uses in close proximity; see Calthorpe (1993); Duany, Plater-Zyberk, and Speck (2000); and Cervero (1989).
Node/linear refers to whether or not the area in question serves as a final activity destination (node) or as a travel conduit that is intended only for temporary occupation (linear). The designations are consistent with the spatial taxonomies proposed by Lynch (1960).
External refers to the strict separation of incompatible land uses. Commercial centers in external environments are strictly separated from residential land uses, often with large buffers in between.
Estimated as an approximate time based on walking at 3 mph from various locations in each neighborhood.