By Kathryn M. Miller | North Central News
Walking around the Carnation neighborhood with residents is an eye-opening experience. As developers have jumped on the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) train and completed projects, neighbors point out way in which they say the vision of the Reinvent PHX TOD Uptown District Plan already has failed.
Reinvent PHX was established in 2015 with one main goal: To create walkable, opportunity-rich communities. Implemented to guide future development along mass transit corridors, the policy plan came with a new Walkable Urban (WU) Code, and the establishment of TOD Districts.
The Uptown District is one of seven with adopted policy plans in place — running from Indian School Road north to Missouri Avenue; 7th Street west to 15th Avenue — and the district policy plan is specific in its vision (www.phoenix.gov/ pdd/tod/reinvent-phx).
But what exactly is walkability? According to Reinvent PHX, walkable places include streets that encourage walking, bicycling, public transit use, and slower traffic speeds; enough people to support daily living amenities, such as grocery stores, daycare centers, health clinics, and public transit; short block patterns and a mix of uses that reduce distances to destinations; cool, shaded areas for relaxation and social interaction; public places that are free from violent crime.
