Compact, walkable, diverse: a positive outlook

Emily Talen & Julia Koschinsky, "Compact, Walkable, Diverse Neighborhoods:Assessing Effects on Residents," Housing Policy Debate 24 (2014): 4

The take-away: In reviewing literature on the effects of compact, walkable, diverse neighborhoods on urban residents, this article concludes that “most of the intended benefits of the CWD neighborhood have been […] found to have significant positive effects” (abstract). When it comes to methodology, however, the authors raise a potentially concerning point: even though more specific analyses (e.g. those that address “social interaction, walking, and traffic safety” rather than “more complex dimensions of community, obesity, and crime reduction”) tend to yield the clearest evidence, such analyses also tend to be “less exclusive […] to the CWD neighborhood as a type” (738). In general, though, the article affirms the power of CWD to potentiate positive change.

Abstract: What research supports the view that compact, walkable, diverse (CWD) neighborhoods are beneficial for urban residents? To make this assessment, we searched the literature to try to understand the current status of evidence regarding claims about the CWD neighborhood. We find that research linking CWD neighborhoods to effects on residents coalesces around three main topics: social relations, health, and safety. We conclude that on the basis of the literature reviewed, most of the intended benefits of the CWD neighborhood have been researched and found to have significant, positive effects for urban dwellers. While physical factors are but one element affecting behavior and outcomes, and the issues of self-selection and causality remain, overall, key dimensions of the CWD neighborhood have been found to positively affect social interaction, health, and safety.

Full article (requires access)