However, a properly installed concrete sidewalk can do so much more. Also, in community centers, sidewalks should be generous to allow room for casual conversations, additional seating, such as benches or cafe tables, and other community interactions. Envision the difference between peeling old paint and fresh paint and/or siding. We have worked on driveways and sidewalks of all shapes and sizes. If done right, it can also add value to your property. “Sidewalks add to the value of the community and its homes,” Eaglin said. I think it’s easy to just say, “your street is the one we’re working on now; we install sidewalks on both sides whenever right-of-way and topography permit. Commercial properties with walk scores of at least 80 are valued at over 50% higher than those with walk scores of 20 or lower. It would be much better to have a sidewalk necessity policy. One planned addition for this street is adding sidewalk on the east side of 44′ wide collector street with existing sidewalk on the west side. Sidewalks and walkways are something that we use every day in Queens, NY, and due to them being practically everywhere, we can take their importance for granted. Luckily, fixing cracks in a cement … But, yes, a sidewalk will change the neighborhood. Sidewalks promote greater activity and better health. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Sitemap, popular and highly accessible running surfaces for urban residents, customers can spend more on their products, Changing Pavements: How to Improve Your School’s Parking Lot, Designing Walking Infrastructure for Healthy and Independent Children, Unexpected Property Repairs—A Top Challenge for Property Managers in the US, Why Commercial Curb Appeal Can Make or Break Your Business. When property is developed, property owners dedicate part of the land as “public right-of-way” for streets, sidewalks, utilities and similar public uses. Kiffi and Sean – I agree that the policy should be presented as “this is the way we do things” not “do you want us to do it this way?” – we are making progress, however, so I’m trying to work with staff to continue the incremental improvements until we reach that place/time. Even an increase of one point in a property’s walk score can raise its average price by 0.9%. As a leading concrete contractor in the Kansas City area, we are proud of the reputation we’ve built in our community and in the industry. For me, however, it’s a big consideration. Certainly Woodley Street is the most critical street on which to add sidewalks to connect to Maple and when that segment is set to be reconstructed, I am sure sidewalks will be a major topic (we try to add sidewalks when reconstructing streets to decrease the overall cost). Just as shoppers seek out “experiential retail,” community members seek experiences in public spaces. There’s no readily available evidence to show sidewalks lower property values, except when they’re in poor condition. Smooth sidewalks made with poured or flatwork concrete are popular and highly accessible running surfaces for urban residents. A healthier community is a happier place to live but also more productive, which, in turn, improves a business’ overall operations. Whether it’s a home appraisal, a comparative market analysis done by an agent, or an Opendoor evaluation, most real estate experts will rely on comps to estimate your home value. It should not be as hard a question to answer to residents as it always seems to be. However, if the citywide goal is a comprehensive sidewalk network, this is the least expensive way to do it. A simple walkway adds character and functionality. Employees who walk to and from their workplace (and avoid long car rides) are also more likely to have better mental health. On the individual plus side, Northfield does not assess property owners for sidewalks. We just walk down the middle of the road. The addition of the sidewalk on Maple Street is called for by the Safe Routes to School study completed in 2009. Obviously, neither I nor the folks on Maple can know what will happen on a future improvement since it’s not there yet. Certainly the sidewalk is a change, however, it may not be a bad one. For a particular home in Northfield, it’s difficult to say whether adding a sidewalk raises or lowers property value without a comparison of similar homes with and without sidewalks. How much depends on factors like typical houses in the area, market conditions, and the type of material you choose. If “we” means anything in this context, it certainly doesn’t mean the 80% who don’t want sidewalks. By Bianca Wheaton Imagine living in a world with no sidewalks. Moreover, wide sidewalks in downtown areas provide a few feet of additional space for retailers. As walkable places continue to demonstrate value, sidewalks and plazas will help deliver that value. But, it doesn’t make much sense to have sidewalks on cul-de-sac streets, or even the streets in Mayflower. Considering how easy it can be to overlook the important role that they play in our everyday lives, it is easy to be unaware of the value … Properties with higher “walk scores” or those within walking distance to public transportation, restaurants, schools, and other amenities are selling faster and for much higher prices. For over a decade, we’ve been perfecting our business processes, products, and delivery times. Kitchen. Among the most common approaches municipalities use to inform and guide street and sidewalk design are (1) complete streets and (2) context sensitive design. Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. “Where sidewalks are placed adjacent to the curb, the widths should be approximately 6 m [2 ft.] wider than the minimum required width. Walkability, in turn, increases property value, regardless of whether it’s a commercial or residential one. Bright, clean and professional looking concrete sidewalks create a more inviting environment for pedestrians and visitors as well as promote closer relationships among the members of a community or institution. Add 13% to 22% to the total cost above if a general contractor will supervise this project. Well-designed and safe sidewalks help direct the flow foot traffic towards local retailers or commercial centers as well as foster social interaction and customer loyalty. Sidewalks are Always in Style May 10, 2012 at 1:02 PM Dear Reader, ~ Sidewalks were most popular when all citizens, even the most affluent, had to utilize the roadways on foot. According to studies from AARP, people who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are almost 50 percent more likely to be active for at least 30 minutes a day. On the collective downside, the cost of new sidewalks is spread across the entire tax base of the city. My response was simple, “Admit that you were wrong. If sidewalks were as ubiquitous in new and replacement work, people wouldn’t be objecting to them either. As a result, there are enough choices to satisfy almost every unique taste and need. I live in a semi-rural area--no sidewalks here. I did a final project just now on property values in comparison to street width and sidewalk coverage. It’s where…, When it comes to urban planning, the complexity of designing communities is affected by a…, Have you ever seen those circus performers who balance dozens of plates on top of…, Contact us at our local Kansas City office or submit a business inquiry online, 5100 NW Waukomis Dr #H However, 3 feet is not the recommended width for sidewalks, it is the absolute minimum needed to ensure a clear path of travel when obstacles exist in the sidewalk. Property value: Sidewalks will lower property values. The problem is that no two comps are the same so you’ll need to make adj… More people leisurely walking around and using the sidewalks rather than vehicles are also indicators of overall safety in the neighborhood. When I was applying to be on the City Council in 1998, I recall that the voters had recently defeated a sidewalk referendum by a 5-1 margin. However, realtors are reporting higher prices and preference for neighborhoods with high walkability – sidewalks, places to walk to, proximity to stores, schools and other services. Sales tax on materials and supplies. Rather, sidewalks are part of the transportation network that benefits the whole community, just like the streets do. Your email address will not be published. Common Approaches. I remember Peggy Prowe asking me what the Council could do to convince the voters to install sidewalks. Maple Street is an opportunity to continue implementing this vision and eliminate a gap in our sidewalk network. Cost: New sidewalks are too expensive. Nobody asks the Council to justify street lights or curbs (well, once or twice, they have been asked for that). We’re planning for a Complete Streets policy to ensure streets are safe and accessible for all. This wasn’t even a theoretical option during the winter, as the boulevard got to be at least a foot deep in snow. Required fields are marked *. Rough and more textured sidewalks, such as those made with interlocking bricks, may be better for slow and leisurely walks. Being able to stroll to schools, parks, stores, and restaurants will raise your property … Businesses that are more accessible through walking earn higher profits as their customers can spend more on their products instead of on gas for their cars. So far in my Northfield experience, sidewalks – new sidewalks where none had existed before, that is – always generate opposition and Maple Street is no exception. Sidewalks are an essential part of any community; they provide a safer surface for walking and they look great too. (Though they don’t seem to raise them, either.) Remove and replace affected panel(s). General contractor overhead and markup for organizing and supervising the Concrete Sidewalk Installation. I’m inclined to think that the best response to sidewalk objections is, simply, “this is how we do a street in Northfield.” That’s established in our transportation plan for collector and arterial roadways, and for all streets in the LDC. The document I have posted here pertains to sidewalk regualtions in the 1950's when housewives and children were the focus groups in regards to the building… Make sure that the streets surrounding the schools have sidewalks and leave the social engineering outside these districts to the free market. For a swimming pool to add value to a home, the pool should go with the style of the home and fit in with similar homes in the neighborhood. Daily brisk walking also helps lower the likelihood of other health conditions that stem from inactivity, such as diabetes and heart disease, and high healthcare costs. Why force the voters to have something they clearly don’t want? Population density is related, in turn, to size of lot and type of dwelling. But they aren't just attractive; they also add value to a property. Well-planned sidewalks should help an area feels like a community: with a regular flow of foot traffic, they should feel neither overcrowded nor empty and abandoned. There is a sidewalk on the west side, but there is also a sidewalk on the east side further south and I look at the addition of sidewalk as completing an unfinished project to link Jefferson Parkway (and soccer fields, walking trails, playground) more completely. One of the best indicators of your home’s value is the sale prices of similar homes in your neighborhood that have sold recently. We focus on customer service that aims to please. Cement sidewalks can provide a nice looking addition to a home. The people there don’t want them, and the only people that use those streets get their by car. Aesthetic value Aside from the fact that it is a natural product and part of our everyday lives, wood comes in a variety of beautiful colors and grain patterns. Pedestrians may spend up to 65% more on local businesses. With design options, such as aprons, saw-cut patterns and borders, there are plenty of ways to add personality to your driveway. A well-constructed walkway for a typical 50-foot-wide residential property might cost a builder $2,000, but it can return 15 times that investment in resale value. Acceptable Repairs. If you’re looking for the perfect partner for a concrete sidewalk project, K&E Flatwork LLC is here for you. Your school’s parking lot is one of the busiest parts of the campus. If the response is geared to the residents realistic concerns, and based on a community value, it should be successful. The people who are walking for recreation can walk on almost any street; they don’t need every street to have sidewalks. Sean is 100% correct on this, IMO. Consequently, we can hypothesize that where the average lot size in a single-family residential development has a certain minimum value, sidewalks are not needed. A driveway will add value to your home. “Pavers are a good option for that,” he says. Contact us today for a free quote for your commercial concrete project! All community meetings about a specific project should be attended by the ward council person to discuss the policy , and the staff to explain technical details. To say “this is the way we do things” is not sound policy. Northfield does get the message right, Golden Opportunity paved over at Greenvale Park, History Matters: How we got to the roundabout at Jefferson Parkway and Division Street. I lived in the Norwegian House at St. Olaf, on W 1st St, which was reconstructed while I was living there, with a sidewalk on only one side — infuriatingly, the side that the houses were not on. preference for neighborhoods with high walkability, Northfield: Adding value to Woodley Street | streets.mn, UPDATE! Walkability Improves Value Sidewalks improve a neighborhood’s walkability score. Kansas City, MO 64151. 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