State of Place is a decision-making tool designed to enhance urban walkability in a cost-effective way, addressing challenges such as public policy hurdles and the lack of metrics. It quantifies walkability using over 250 micro-scale features and provides a State of Place Index, which links urban quality to economic performance indicators. The tool aids cities in making data-driven investments to improve neighborhoods, ultimately impacting property values and tax revenues.

1. What’s your State of Place™ ?
A streamlined decision-­‐‑making tool that makes it easier and more
cost efficient for cities to enhance walkability and maximize the triple
bo;om line in a transparent and accountable way
Mariela Alfonzo, Ph.D.
Founder, State of Place
President, Urban Imprint
Research Fellow/Adjunct Professor, NYU-Poly
www.urbanimprint.com/state-of-place

2. In the stiff competitive “place market”
walkability is no longer an
“intangible luxury”

3. But…there is a shortage of walkability
Public policy hurdles +
Legal issues +
NIMBYism +
Lack of benchmarks and metrics
= More difficult to finance/underwrite/create/deliver
Lack effective, cost efficient methods that demystify the
process of identifying, differentiating, and creating the quality
places people want

4. Enter, State of Place™ ?
¤ Art à Science: Quantifying walkability
¤ Comprehensive, Objective, Reliable
¤ Captures “Micro-­‐‑scale” & “Sensory” features
¤ Diagnostic, Empirically-­‐‑Based
¤ Ties Place Quality, Economic Impact
¤ Facilitates Evidence-­‐‑based decision making, Accountability
¤ Provides empirically-­‐‑based ROI predictions, Customizable

5. First step: Quantifying Walkability
Collect street-level built environment data on 250+ micro-scale
features
• Sidewalk presence, street trees, street benches, parks, street
facades, land uses, etc.
Using Irvine Minnesota Inventory
• Reliable, used widely in research

6. Raters receive walkability training
Raters receive full day training; tested for accuracy/reliability
Data can be collected for sample of blocks in a neighborhood or
on a select number of blocks
• 10-12 min/block
Neighborhood defined based on existing boundaries

7. Next step: Calculate
State of Place™ Index

8. Next Step: Create
State of Place™ Diagnosis
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Density
Form
Proximity
Connectivity
Parks & Public Space
Pedestrian Amenities
Safety from Crime
Traffic Safety
Aesthetics
Physical Activity Facilities

9. Index & Diagnosis based on
State of Place™ Algorithm
Dimensions Description/Example Items
Density Measure of enclosure based on building
concentrations and height
Proximity Presence of non-residential land uses
Connectivity Measure of disconnectivty; Potential Barriers
(e.g., six-lane roads)
Form Measure of streetscape discontinuity (e.g. drive-
thrus)
Parks and Public Space Parks, Playgrounds, Plazas, Playing Fields
Pedestrian Infrastructure/ Curbcuts, Sidewalks, Street Furniture, Bike Racks
Amenities
Personal Safety Graffiti, Litter, Windows with Bars
Traffic Measures Traffic Signals, Speed Limit, Traffic Calming
Aesthetics (Pleasurability & Attractiveness, Open Views, Outdoor Dining,
Maintenance) Maintenance
Physical Activity Facilities Gym/Fitness Facilities, Other Recreational Uses

10. Uniquely, the State of Place™
diagnosis allows users to identify
neighborhood assets
& areas in need of improvement
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Density
Form
Proximity
Connectivity
Parks & Public Space
Pedestrian Amenities
Safety from Crime
Traffic Safety
Aesthetics
Physical Activity Facilities

11. Density
Dimensions - Assets
State of Place™
Pedestrian
Amenities
Form
Traffic Safety

12. State of Place™
Dimensions –
Need improvement
Connectivity
Aesthetics
Safety

13. But another key value proposition =
State of Place™ is tied to economic
performance
Correlated Economic Performance
+ $9 sf office rents
+ $7 sf retail rents
+80% retail revenues
+ $300/unit res. rent
+81 sf for-sale res. value
From Brookings Institution
report, “Walk this Way”

14. State of Place™ is a powerful
decision-making tool

15. Evaluate neighborhoods based on
State of Place™ Index
Like a credit or bond rating for neighborhoods; Helps
guide investment & underwriting; Aids branding; Siting
*Risk averse investors; Steady ROI
*Regional retailer siting
*Risk tolerant investors; Higher ROI
*Aggressive developer enters market
*Target for social
equity advocates

16. State of Place™ = Economic Indicator
Can quantify the value of place….
The State of Place™ index is linked to
premiums of up to:
+74% residential rents/unit
+$1200/unit residential rent
+108% office rents
+84% retail rents
+23% premium valuation before
recession;
+44% premium post
For DC, this translates into up to:
+$744 mill in residential property taxes/
neighborhood
+$96 mill in retail taxes generated/
neighborhood

17. And because State of Place™
dimensions are each
tied to distinct ROI
!"#"$%&'(%)*'
!"# $!"# %!"# &!"# '!"# (!"# )!"# *!"# +!"# ,!"# $!!"#
-./0#
1234#
Very Good ROI 5246#
7214#
6/5-#
Good ROI 7/.8#
75/94#
:.33#
45-2#
Fair ROI
75-#

18. !"#"$%&'(%)*'
!"# $!"# %!"# &!"# '!"# (!"# )!"# *!"# +!"# ,!"# $!!"#
-./0#
Very
Good 1234#
ROI 5246#
7214#
6/5-#
Good
7/.8#
ROI
75/94#
:.33#
Fair 45-2#
ROI 75-#
Next Step: Assess current performance
against estimated ROI
Assess current performance
Predict ROI
Balance Costs, Benefits

19. Intervention Sidewalk Façade
Scenario Analysis - EXAMPLE Options improvement improvement
Project Costs $500,000.00 $250,000.00
SoP Dimension Ped. Amenities Aesthetics
Current
50% 25%
Performance
State of Place™
ROI Impact Factor 6 7
Predicted SoP
Performance 10% 15%
Increase
Walkability Impact 7 4
Baseline Indicator Office Rents $25
Predicted $3.13/sf $1.89/sf
Economic Upside

20. Next Step: Prioritize Planned Interventions
based on State of Place™ Diagnosis
¤ FIRST PHASE: !"#"$%&'(%)*'
¤ Add grid of streets !"# $!"# %!"# &!"# '!"# (!"# )!"# *!"# +!"# ,!"# $!!"#
FORM -./0#
¤ Add Commercial 1234#
office, retail, DENS 5246#
7214#
housing (as market 6/5-#
bears) 7/.8#
75/94#
¤ Add infill Metrorail PROX :.33#
station 45-2#
CONN
75-#
¤ Add BRT Transit Line

21. Prioritize Planned Interventions
¤ SECOND PHASE: !"#"$%&'(%)*'
¤ Add sidewalks, buffers -./0#
!"# $!"# %!"# &!"# '!"# (!"# )!"# *!"# +!"# ,!"# $!!"#
¤ Add street furniture PEDS
1234#
5246#
¤ Add plaza, public 7214#
space TRAF 6/5-#
7/.8#
¤ Streetscape AEST 75/94#
improvements :.33#
45-2#
¤ Traffic calming 75-#

22. Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments, DC Metro Region
!"#$%$#& '()#(* +#*,#(-$" .)%(/#0()# 12,)
!"# $#%&'( )'*+,*- ./01#/#(2,2&'( !''1
!"#$%&' !("')%"* ¤ Diagnosing 95
neighborhoods in the
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!"#$%&' 0%(/
region
/%5'%60%"7
/ ' 0 12 3412
¤ Creating place profiles
– based on assets and
areas in need of
improvement
¤ Informing Strategic
Investment Plan for
region

23. Conservation Law Foundation
Ventures, Boston, MA
¤ CLFV à Creating Healthy Neighborhood Equity Fund
¤ Piloting State of Place™ as project & neighborhood
screening tool
¤ Creating estimated State of Place™ scores based on
proposed projects
¤ Calculating potential upside

24. State of Place™ current & future “imprint”…
¤ Applicable across urban, suburban, & rural communities
¤ IMI data has been collected in California, Minneapolis, Houston, Iowa, North
Carolina RT, Denver, Salt Lake City, Kansas, Arkansas, Michigan, Illinois…
¤ Rolling out State of Place in other metros
¤ San Francisco/Bay area – Spring 2013
¤ Houston, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles
¤ Incorporating a broader set of economic indicators
¤ Job creation, retention, firm recruitment
¤ Health Metrics
¤ App – available soon!
¤ Partnering with universities
¤ Working with underprivileged community
¤ Brownsville + NYU-Poly
¤ China – in progress!

25. Let’s boost your State of Place™ !

26. What’s your State of Place™ ?
www.urbanimprint.com/state-of-place