Smart Growth Communities

Sales MeetingMay 3, 2011

What is “smart growth?”10 accepted principles that define Smart Growth

1. Mix land uses2. Take advantage of compact building design3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices4. Create walkable neighborhoods5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of

place6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical

environmental areas7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities8. Provide a variety of transportation choices9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in

development decisions

What makes a neighborhood walkable?

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.

• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.

• Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.

• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are

relegated to the back. • Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk

from their homes. • Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and

transit.

WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS

• Environment– Walking is a zero-pollution transportation method

• Health– Average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7

pounds less than a resident in a sprawling neighborhood• Finances

– Increases the value of property• Communities

– Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%

Visualize It

Important to Buyers

• Commute time and places to walk are 2 of the top 3 most important community characteristics (NAR)

• Each point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 in a typical metro area (CEOs for Cities, 2009)

• Commercial Real Estate: A 10 point increase in Walk Score increases property values 5-8%

2011 Community Preference SurveyNAR: 2,071 Adults (2/2011)

• 56% of respondents survey prefer smart growth communities to ones that require more driving between home, work and recreation

• Willing to sacrifice square footage for less driving:– 80% would prefer to live in a single-family detached

home as long as it didn’t require a longer commute, BUT

– 59% would choose a smaller home if it meant a commute time of 20 minutes or less

• Community Characteristics: When considering a home purchase– 88% placed more value on the quality of the

neighborhood, than the size of the home– 77% want communities with high-quality schools

• Don’t just sell homes, sell neighborhoods!• Different home buyers are looking for all kinds

of neighborhood settings

2011 Community Preference SurveyNAR: 2,071 Adults (2/2011)

Omaha and Smart Growth

• 78th most sprawling of 83 metro areas• It’s a long way from becoming the way of life– Midtown Crossing– Very walkable living choice,

but no one would buy the condos• Would a similar development work better in

west Omaha?• Why are Omaha’s residents resistant to this

lifestyle change?

Omaha and Smart Growth

Get Involved!

• Influence local government to find ways to increase the walk score of your target neighborhoods– Zoning Ordinances

Questions / Comments