Want 47% More Rent? Advocate for Walkable Zoning

Picture this: you are strolling through a neighborhood, and it just feels… good. The streets are lined with thriving shops and restaurants, there is shade and seating, and you feel safe. You wonder, “Why doesn’t my neighborhood feel like this?” 

There is a long history of public policy choices to explain this—including bad zoning, parking minimums, and car-first design. But even now, in a post-COVID, hybrid work reality, walkability is still seen as “nice to have”—not a necessity. 

Walkable neighborhoods aren’t just charming, they are powerful drivers of economic value, resilient built environments, and public well-being.  

Here are three benefits to walkable neighborhoods: 

1. Deals in Walkable Neighborhoods Achieve Higher ROI 

Walkable places perform better because people stay longer and spend more. A Smart Growth America report found that office and multifamily properties in walkable areas command a 47% rental premium over drivable suburbs. Retail tenants benefit from increased foot traffic and visibility, with walkable retail districts generating 40% higher sales. Homes sell for 34% more than suburban counterparts, boosting local tax bases and long-term value for homeowners. These gains come with smaller lots, denser buildings, and existing infrastructure, meaning higher ROI per acre for developers and lower maintenance burdens for cities.  

2. Walkability is Driving Thriving Districts 

Office values are down 45% and vacancy across the United States hit 20%. Meanwhile, places like Downtown Kansas City, Missouri (16.7% vacancy), Uptown Dallas, Texas (11.7% vacancy), or even small but mighty Fishers, Indiana (7% vacancy) are creating thriving districts and pushing rents. Why? They’ve prioritized walkability, transit-access, and mixed-use zoning. They’re building for people, not cars.  

For decades, we designed cities to move one person in a car to and from work as fast as possible. Other trips—walking to the store, picking up kids from school, taking an elderly parent to the doctor—were labeled  “non-mandatory.” That language shaped our infrastructure. 

We didn’t invest in public transit. We didn’t prioritize sidewalks. We zoned housing far from offices, schools, and services. And it shows. We built isolated, car-dependent office parks and housing developments with no street life, no vibrant commercial spaces, no community, and no room for the diverse needs of life.  

This design pattern is especially hostile to women, caregivers, and seniors, for whom proximity to essentials like healthcare, childcare, and groceries is not a lifestyle choice. 

3. Healthy Living is Valuable 

Walking reduces depression (by up to 42%), anxiety, and stress while improving mood and cognitive performance. Among older adults, living in a walkable neighborhood is associated with a 44% lower risk of cognitive impairment. Among diabetics, walking lowers all-cause mortality by 39%. 78% of Americans (and 90% of Gen Z and Millennials) say they would pay more to live in a walkable community. Every additional “Walk Score” point adds about $3,500 USD to a home’s value.  

The return on walkability is real. It is no longer a luxury—walkability is a critical infrastructure with a proven business case—and should be funded accordingly. 

MK Lindsey, Founder / CEO, Winter Wheat

Over the past 15 years, MK, a member of CREW Louisville, has led the planning and execution of dozens of legacy destinations across eight states, with combined budgets exceeding $1 billion. The portfolio includes hospitality, multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, entertainment venues, museums, distilleries, corporate visitor centers, middle housing, and public placemaking projects.

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