The Avenue District Walk Score=95

According to walkscore.com, The Avenue District, centered at 1211 St. Clair Ave. in downtown Cleveland, scores a 95/100 in walkability. Addresses with scores in the range of 90-100 are dubbed a Walkers' Paradise with most errands able to be accomplished on foot.

Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by mapping nearby stores, restaurants, entertainment and more. Click on the graphic below to check out Walk Score.

Costs of Commuting Part One: Tracking National Trends

The rising costs of commuting are driving Americans back to downtown living.

The Avenue District, located at East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue in downtown Cleveland, is designed as a walkable neighborhood, placing residents in walking distance to shopping, dining, arts, work and more. Its central proximity to several major Cleveland districts is a strong advantage for those looking to eliminate their dependence on cars, and make the lifestyle change from suburban to urban living.

The Avenue District is not alone in this transformation, as there are multiple revitalization projects underway throughout Cleveland, that will connect segments of downtown and set the stage for a thoroughly walkable metropolis.

The following three-part blog series will take a look at the financial, environmental and health advantages of walkable neighborhoods, and the significance of downtown Cleveland taking this first step in bringing residents back to the City.


PART ONE: TRACKING NATIONAL TRENDS

On any given day, media coverage is dominated by the topic of rising fuel costs. In addition to the impact on peoples’ wallets, and the trickle-down effect throughout the economy, new emphasis is being placed on the ongoing environmental issues of fuel consumption and non-renewable energy sources.

Suburbs a Mile Too Far for Some - Demographic Changes, High Gasoline Prices May Hasten Demand for Urban Living
Jonathan Karp - Wall Street Journal
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

"In recent years, a generation of young people, called the millennials, born between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, has combined with baby boomers to rekindle demand for urban living. Today, the subprime-mortgage crisis and $4-a-gallon gasoline are delivering further gut punches by blighting remote subdivisions nationwide and rendering long commutes untenable for middle-class Americans..."

Is America's suburban dream collapsing into a nightmare?
Lara Farrar - CNN
Monday, June 16, 2008

"Instead, they are looking for what Leinberger calls "walkable urbanism" -- both small communities and big cities characterized by efficient mass transit systems and high density developments enabling residents to walk virtually everywhere for everything -- from home to work to restaurants to movie theaters.

The so-called New Urbanism movement emerged in the mid-90s and has been steadily gaining momentum, especially with rising energy costs, environmental concerns and health problems associated with what Leinberger calls "drivable suburbanism" -- a low-density built environment plan that emerged around the end of the World War II and has been the dominant design in the U.S. ever since..."

Market blamed for fuel costs
Bob Dart - Cox News Service
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

“Gasoline should cost about $2.25 a gallon at the pump, and everything above that is "funny money" largely tacked on by speculation and manipulation in the energy markets, a consumer advocate told a Senate committee Tuesday…”

As gas prices rise, commuters hop on mass transit wagon
Sarah Karush - Associated Press
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

"Around the country, high gas prices are pushing more people to leave their cars at home and crowd onto trains, buses and subways…”

Small cars overtake Ford trucks
Dee-Ann Durbin - Associated Press
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

“U.S. auto sales in May brought the starkest signs yet that gas prices have dramatically shifted the market to smaller cars, as the top-selling Ford F-series truck was dethroned by cars from Toyota and Honda…”

Empty Nesters Filling Downtown Spaces

With the kids grown up and moving out, many Baby Boomers are making the decision to downsize the nest, and upgrade their lifestyle in downtown dwellings. As part of a national trend, it’s no surprise that The Avenue District is welcoming buyers from this demographic at its luxury 10-story condo building at East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue, and townhomes at East 15th Street and Rockwell Avenue.

Whether drawn to the downtown lifestyle and walkable neighborhoods, or simply purchasing a second home in the city for investment or personal use, Empty Nesters are quickly becoming a force in downtown living.

In a Feb. 27, 2008 article on FoxBusiness.com, Kyle Ezell, author of “Retire Downtown: The Lifestyle Destination for Active Retirees and Empty Nesters,” was quoted on the topic. The article states:

“The number of Americans over age 50 is expected to triple in the next 10 years. That increase means a larger retired population in most U.S. cities, as today’s 50-and-over crowd seeks convenience and close proximity to health care and entertainment, according to CityRetirement.com”

“There is a growing percentage of empty-nesters who have lived in the suburbs all their lives and are ready for the action they’ve been craving,” said Ezell. “It’s a niche market for those ready for fun and entertainment.”

Click here for full article

Urban Living = Healthier Lifestyle?

Is Your House Making You Look Fat? Allison Arieff, the former Editor in Chief of Dwell magazine, and author of New York Times opinion blog “By Design,” posted “Is Your House Making You Look Fat?” Feb. 18. The post revolves around the idea of building community – as opposed to commuting - as well as national urban living trends and environmental issues.

“...Contrary to popular belief, the pace and proximity of urban living can actually contribute to more healthful lifestyles, while lower-density communities tend to have a higher incidence of cardiovascular and lung diseases, including asthma in children, as well as cancer, diabetes, obesity, traffic injuries and deaths; these are exacerbated by an increase in air pollution, gridlock and traffic accidents, and by a lack of physical activity. The study recommended that people seek out cities and towns with reliable public transportation systems, bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths, ones that have schools, businesses and stores within walking distance...”

Click here for full text

Trend Tracker Links (9.24.07)

Urban Model for the Nation
Washington Post - United States
By Alejandro Lazo
"Christopher B. Leinberger, a visiting fellow with the Brookings Institution, believes the move into urban corridors that is occurring in ..."

University Circle developers announce a high quality short list of ...
Plain Dealer – Cleveland, OH
"A bird's eye view shows the general massing of the Triangle development. Apartments and retail buildings to be built by developers Nathan Zaremba and Richard and Ari Maron are indicated in white, along with new buildings ..."

“Magic” Johnson Introduces Design-Your-Own Lofts in the Bay State
Multi-Housing News
"Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund joined with local partner Cathartes Private Investments, Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill and students from the Boston Parties in Education program this morning to preview the Mezzo Design Lofts, a workforce housing, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Charlestown, Mass., about a mile outside of Boston…."

Intown living: Sylvan Hills revitalized, yet affordable
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA
"Kersey is an urban planner who works in Midtown and Kravitz commutes to Decatur where he works for MedShare International, a nonprofit that recovers surplus ..."

Cleveland Among Nation's Most Expensive Commutes

Cleveland homebuyers considering a move back to the urban core for the energy and convenience of a walkable downtown neighborhood, can add significant cost savings to the list of benefits.

Cleveland, along with Houston, Detroit, Tampa, Fla., Kansas City, Mo., and Cincinnati, made the Forbes.com list of the country's biggest cities where transportation eats up a fifth or more of household costs.

"Congestion isn't a big problem for the average Cleveland commuter, and the city is expanding its bus system. But in what is otherwise a cheap city, the cost of transportation, which isn't steep by national standards, is very high compared to local income levels."

• Percent of expenses spent on transportation: 20.5%
• Annual delay per traveler: 10 hours

See America's Most Expensive Commutes for the full story.

Sample Elements of the East 12th Streetscape

The East 12th streetscape project, designed by Paul Volpe of City Architecture, will bring style and convenience to downtown Cleveland's premier walkable neighborhood.

Check out sample images below for planned elements of the East 12th streetscape:

Sidewalk planters, like the example above from Michigan Avenue, will accentuate the primary and secondary sidewalks, including a passageway that provides a dogwalk for Avenue District residents.

“Outdoor living rooms” will be incorporated, defined by special paving areas constructed out of alternating colors and textures, referred to as “area rugs.” (see above and below)

Plans integrate bicycle lanes and racks for convenient access to existing and proposed retail components of The Avenue District.

Additional amenities include: benches, smaller-scaled light fixtures (like the image shown below), public art, abundant landscaping and wider sidewalks.

You can also click on the image below to view a Google Map of the East 12th streetscape plan in relation to the Avenue District neighborhood: