How much is walkability worth?
Every morning I read articles from facebook, twitter, active rain, linkedin, social media advocate, and a variety of other places. This article written by Suzanne Welch is my favorite today! Walk Score has become an important tool for me when evaluating single user (medical and retail) developments. It has actually become a critical tool for me when we evaluate large land tracts/multi-use developments. Unfortunatly some of the commercial addresses are "off" but as this system improves I feel that it will become a much more valuable tool for residential and commercial real estate agents. In addition to reading Suzanne's great article...check out the below links to some of our articles, and follow us on the many social networks. Let's network!
http://kwcommercialsa.com/blog/?p=925 (4 things I asked for my birthday!)
http://kwcommercialsa.com/blog/?p=323 (San Antonio Road Work Projects)
http://kwcommercialsa.com/blog/?p=459 (Top 11 reasons why 2011 is our year!)
http://kwcommercialsa.com/blog/?cat=67 (My Commercial Real Estate Blog Page)
http://kwcommercialsa.com/blog/?cat=66 (Medical NNN Investments for Sale)
I came across a very cool site I would like to share with you, and something I will share with potential clients. It’s called WalkScore.com, you type in any address and it tells you how “walkable” an address is to a restaurants, parks, transportation etc etc. Often, I have buyers call me, especially folks wanting to move to the Croton on Hudson area, asking if a home is in walking distance to town and school.With Earth Day upon us, and our communities becoming more and more aware of the environmental impact of automobile use, and how the use of biking and walking to get to where we need to be benefits the environment, our health and our finances, too.
I was out with a client this week in Yonkers, and I keenly noticed many bike paths and pedestrian walks that were not there the last time I was. Every day, I notice more and more parents choosing to walk to school with their children, rather than taking a bus or driving them, and it provides quality time…tell me, what beats that?
Equally, more and more people want this, will it raise home values? I would like to think so. I also feel these same people who have these needs will be more involved in the community and suppost local businesses, too.
If you support WALKABILITY in America, tell Congress.
• Congress spends about $60 billion a year on transportation. • Nearly 85% of that goes to expanding or maintaining highways. • Only 1.5%—about $3 per American per year—goes to support walking and biking. About 15% goes to support public transit. • 83% percent of Americans live in metropolitan areas, yet only 5% live within walking distance of decent public transit.
Walkable neighborhoods result from smart policy decisions that allocate our tax dollars and set the rules for development. Currently, federal rules and funding priorities make it difficult for communities to create walkable neighborhoods.
Check out Transportation For America.org for more information and let Congress know and urge President Obama and Congress to create the world-leading, clean, efficient, sustainable transportation system we so desperately need. Take action today.
Suzanne Welch
Coldwell Banker Residential Services
Associate Broker
1392 Albany Post Road
Croton on Hudson NY 10520
office- 914 271 8500
fax- 914 271 1082
cell- 914 557 3760
suzanne.welch@cbmoves.com
suzannewelch.comhttp://www.facebook.com/SuzanneWelchWestchesterHomes
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