Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
Walkable neighborhoods provide opportunities for people to interact, and this is an important factor fostering health and wellness. In May, a U.S. Surgeon General Advisory noted that loneliness and isolation can lead to a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, a 50% increased risk of developing dementia among older adults, and increased risk of premature death by more than 60%.
The Surgeon General recommended strengthening social infrastructure by designing environments that promote connection. Walkable neighborhoods promote social interactions by encouraging walking for leisure or transportation to school, work, and shopping. People create and strengthen social connections as they encounter one another during these activities.
“Promoting social interaction is an important public health goal. Understanding the role of neighborhood design bolsters our ability to advocate for the health of our communities and the individuals who reside in them,” said Jacob R. Carson, one of the study’s researchers. “Fewer traffic incidents, increases in physical activity, and better neighborhood social health outcomes are just a few of the results of designing walkable neighborhoods that can enrich our lives.”
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Oct 18, 2021
Construction begins on downtown Fort Worth’s first luxury high-rise rental residences
GDA Architects designed the building.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 14, 2021
27-story Bronx tower will include retail, 200 apartment units
CetraRuddy is designing the project.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 12, 2021
Affordable and sublime: 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
These projects prove that it’s possible to develop aesthetically pleasing, high-quality housing for low-income families, the homeless, and veterans.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 12, 2021
New multifamily community completes in Austin
Britt Design Group and Davies Collaborative designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 6, 2021
New assisted living and memory care facility begins construction in Austin
OZ Architecture designed the project.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 4, 2021
Spire brings 343 condos to downtown Seattle
The project is the closest high-rise building to the Space Needle.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 29, 2021
Five-story apartment community in Duarte, Calif. breaks ground
The project is located 22 miles from downtown L.A.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021
Designing for the ‘missing middle’ in multifamily housing
Multifamily housing expert Patrick Winters, AIA, discusses a neglected segment of the market: the "missing middle."
Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021
11 notable multifamily projects to debut in 2021
A residence for older LGBTQ+ persons, a P3 student housing building, and a converted masonic lodge highlight the multifamily developments to debut this year.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 1, 2021
Top 10 outdoor amenities at multifamily housing developments for 2021
Fire pits, lounge areas, and covered parking are the most common outdoor amenities at multifamily housing developments, according to new research from Multifamily Design+Construction.
