A new publication, “DC: The WalkUP Wake-Up Call,” uses the Nation’s Capital as the model for walkable urban places, or WalkUps. Researched and written by Chris Leinberger, a land use strategist, developer and George Washington University professor, the report draws a connection between WalkUps and economic success. He identifies 43 WalkUps in the region, including Downtown DC, and determines their success by using economic and social indicators to rank each one as “Copper,” “Silver,” “Gold,” or “Platinum.” The Downtown DC area received a “Platinum” economic ranking and a “Silver” social equity ranking. The WalkUPs were described as “regionally significant,” taking up less than 1% of the land in the Washington metropolitan area and accounting for some 34% of jobs (surprisingly, 58% of the WalkUPs are located in the suburbs). In early September, several local and national experts participated in a forum, “The Future of Metropolitan Washington: Walkable Urban Places and the Real Estate Market,” about the report. Richard H. Bradley, executive director of the DowntownDC BID, was a panelist and discussed planning, creating and managing places for maximum economic impact. The 44-page report is available online.
