When developing mixed-use environments, developers can increase walkability through strategic site planning, commercial landscaping, and safety features that naturally produce intuitive pedestrian movement. Improve business visibility by adding connected walkways. The local population can get healthier by naturally increasing their daily steps and having less need for exhaust-producing vehicles.
A Stanford study found that moving to a walkable city led to people naturally adding an average of 1,100 steps per day to their daily routines. As people naturally build daily steps, they can improve heart health, boost their mood by being outside in nature, and find natural ways to connect with others doing the same. Creating a space that's easy to walk around and encourages good vibes can make it easier for people to patronize businesses and boost their revenue.
Why Is Walkability So Important in These Developments?
Making spaces easier to walk to and around is a better experience for everyone from employees to customers to visitors. People can kill two birds with one stone by getting in their daily steps to work towards fitness goals, practice meditation outside, and do a little bit of socialization all while en route to your business.
Walkability also matters for employees returning to an office or other in-person environment when it's more inviting. A comfortable office environment goes beyond a cubicle with an ergonomic chair. It can include a campus with treeline paths, flower gardens, and comfortable zones to take a break, decompress, or enjoy coffee while hearing the birds sing.
Not having to worry about driving means not spending time, energy, and money looking for a parking space. Fewer cars can help everyone breathe easier from less carbon and nitrogen exhaust clogging the air. With the cost of gas constantly fluctuating, a walkable area for work or regular errands can improve everyone's household budget.
How Can Stakeholders Create Strong Pedestrian Access?
Early in the land development process, include clearly defined walkways and crossings such as mixed-use developments' timber bridges. Create connections between parking areas and transit stops that lead to storefronts and other commonly used amenities. Make it easy for those with mobility challenges to access these areas by creating wider paths and ramps.
Decrease unnecessary detours by keeping things well lit and paved.
When creating these paths, focus on people's natural movement patterns. That means having business entrances along logical pedestrian corridors. Instead of using a confusing circular pattern with weird dead ends, ensure that every area has an entry and exit point. Avoid accidents by clearly defining areas for vehicle circulation that avoid bike and walking-only zones where possible.
What to Do With Commercial Landscaping?
The land development phase of your commercial zone should be as aesthetically pleasing as it is walkable.
Remember, people enjoy soaking in the beauty and sounds of nature. Keep the walk interesting by providing:
- Large trees for shade and comfort
- Flower beds and ground covers on paths.
- Low-maintenance native plants
- Hardscape built-in benches
- Water fountains and water stations
Strong visual cues like bold signs make self-direction easier. Protect pedestrians from vehicles and parking areas with designated and gated zones.
How Can Routes Be Safer?
Make pedestrian routes safer and more accessible with foot traffic optimization, including wider walkway paths and adequate lighting at all times. Be mindful of surface types and use appropriate grading to avoid slips, falls, and tripping.
Plan for different weather conditions with natural and artificial shades such as awnings, table umbrellas, and trees. You can never have too many signs, and ensure they clearly point in the right direction with clear lettering.
If you have a large space, have a Help Center Station where people can ask a human for directions. Install digital kiosks with a screen that shows people where they're at now. Display pamphlets describing the area.
Plan Your Development to Eventually Scale
Plan any new development with enough room to eventually scale. Once your development is up and running, keep monitoring it to see how people actually use the site.
Some useful data to analyze include:
- Feedback from tenants and visitors
- Common congestion points
- Areas used the most and the least.
- Average pedestrian count
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Advantages of Mixed-use Development?
These increasingly popular developments combine residential, recreational, and commercial spaces into a building or neighborhood. As a result, it improves walkability while reducing the environmental impact of carbon pollution. Reduced car dependency results from residences, workspaces, and shops being closer together.
Some people can get to work, socialize, or run errands without driving. Designated paths make it easier to use eco-friendly transportation.
A built-in group of nearby residents and office workers helps local businesses thrive. People who own these developments have diverse ways to build income streams by renting out commercial and residential leases.
What Are Examples of Mixed-Use Developments?
Mixed-use layouts may be vertical or horizontal. Many transit-oriented developments are built around subway stations.
Washington, DC has the Wharf, a waterfront neighborhood featuring restaurants, offices, hotels, and apartments. It sits along the Potomac River and is a great place to sit back and enjoy live music, people-watch, and taste some of the area's best food.
If you're in Tampa, Florida, there is Water Street Tampa, a massive downtown district that combines retail stores with high-rise residences as well as a luxury hotel with public parks.
Chicago, Illinois, has the John Hancock Center, a mixed- use skyscraper that has retail on the ground level. There are commercial office floors, residential condominiums on the upper floors, and a large parking garage.
Develop With Walking in Mind
Incorporating walkability features into mixed-use development benefits everyone from renters to visitors to workers. Clear bike and walking paths protect from traffic. Connected zones encourage people to walk more and may have a positive impact on physical and mental health.
The environment can heal with a smaller carbon footprint from cars, and it's a great way to support the local community, as constant foot traffic makes it easy for people to patronize different businesses in the same area.
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