Experts Weigh In On What Makes A Successful City Neighborhood

It goes without saying that all neighborhoods aren’t created equal. With all of the cities throughout the country, some big – some small, many have long been popular destinations, while others have recently begun to work their way through the ranks. While most places do have their perks, there are some places are simply more desirable than others. However, aside from some of the obvious factors like safety, what are some of the contributing factors that make certain neighborhoods more successful than others? Well, it looks like some experts have finally weighed in, and the answer is pretty interesting. When it comes to city life, Gabe Klein, author of Start-up City, says that most people are focused on one thing: “It’s pretty simple, give people what they want within a quick walk.”  Klein also states, “Fundamentally, people want to have the majority of what they need in a five- to ten- minute walk. It’s about curating interesting shops and services, the fundamentals that people need. I think for many years, we focused too much on transportation instead of focusing on land use. I feel good transportation plans involve moving people as little as possible.” Think about it, if you’ve ever been to a big city, you’ve probably realized that driving can be a serious issue. In city’s like New York, many people forgo calls all together, because the amount of congestion makes driving an unnecessary hassle.

In fact, Klein even notes that this idea of walkability can also effect real estate prices. After all, most people would be willing to pay more to live in an area of a city where everything they need is in walking distance. Although many people seem to be primarily invested in technological advances, Klein believes that people need to redirect their efforts so that the emphasis is not only on technology, but also creating great neighborhoods. By working together, technology and design can create areas where these two things can exist seamlessly.Klein also suggests that another key component to helping a neighborhood grow and become success if a 24 hour approach.

Most people would agree that one of the best things about living in a big city is that you have can have constant access to more things. Being able to leave your house ay any time of day or night, and know that there will always be something going on is another main reason why people flock to city neighborhoods. Klein believes that designers and developers can work together to create spaces that are conducive to constant flows of people, which can ultimate result in making a neighborhood more desirable.

With Klein’s advice, many neighborhood’s may be able to revamp their reputations, and those that are already successful can continue to grow. As with anything else, it’s important that local areas be in tune with what potential residents and businesses are looking for. With home ownership on a rapid decline, the number of people looking to rent in big city’s seems to be growing, and this could be the perfect time for many places throughout the country to really turn things around.

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