Los Angeles On The Verge Of Being A Major Walkable City

A new report released Tuesday by SmartGrowth America and George Washington University that analyzed the number of walkable urban neighborhoods in 30 big metro areas and measured the potential to develop more pedestrian space found that Los Angeles is on the cusp of becoming a “major” walkable urban area. And, according to an article in the L.A. Times, doing so could do wonders for the real estate market here.

Unsurprisingly, Washington D.C., New York City and Boston topped the rankings, while car-loving L.A. fell right around the middle at #16. However, development around new Metro stations and the continued revival of downtown areas, including Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena, will give more Angelenos the chance for a less auto-centric life in the years to come. These walkable neighborhoods are already commanding higher rents for office and retail space than their more car-oriented competition, reports the Times, and those rents are going up faster. That’s drawing more developers and projects to these places.

The potential negative side of this rise to the top of the country's walk cities are the challenges regarding who can afford to live in these increasingly high-end, concentrated neighborhoods. As prices climb in the more walkable areas, many lower and middle-income residents could find themselves pushed out to car-dependent suburbs. However, there are a variety of tools, including density bonuses and tax credits, that cities can use to encourage affordable and middle-income housing in walkable neighborhoods.