Locate buildings within a walkable area

Rationale: Locating projects in well-connected, pedestrian-oriented areas with access to community resources and destinations improves walkability and supports regular physical activity and social interactions, contributing to decreased risk of chronic cardiovascular, psychological and diet-related diseases related to sedentary lifestyles.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Walk Score of 70+ (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with the following requirement:

1. To achieve full credit, demonstrate that each building has a walk score of 70 or above.

Option 2 - Main Building Entrance Near Amenities (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Locate a main building entrance within a 1/2-mile or 800-meter walking route of a minimum of three of the following amenities:

• food outlet (such as a cafe, restaurant, food court, deli, or grocery store)
• financial service (such as, a bank, ATM, or cash machine)
• gym, recreation, or leisure facility (such as a fitness center, gym, sports facility, or recreation center)
• public transit stops (such as a bus stop, light rail station, heavy rail station, ferry terminal, subway station, or tram stop).

2. Locate a main building entrance within a 1/2-mile or 800-meter walking route of a minimum of two of the following amenities:

• public outdoor open space (such as a park, plaza, pedestrian corridor, or other type of public open space) 
• civic and/or institutional building (such as a library, school, community center, or postal facility)
• medical facility (such as a doctors office, surgical center, urgent care facility, hospital, or general medical center)
• school or child care facility
• area of commerce (such as a retail corridor or market)
• sidewalk with street furniture (such as benches, tables, or chairs)
• cultural destinations (such as a religious center, museum, or other type of cultural center).

Amenities and community destinations must be located outside of the building submitting for certification.

Option 3 - Nearby Community Destinations (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating that each building is connected to community destinations that meet all of the following requirements:

1. Locate a minimum of three of the following qualifying community destinations within 5 miles or 8 kilometers of a main building entrance:

• area of commerce (such as a retail corridor or market)
• food outlet (such as, a cafe, restaurant, food court, deli, or grocery store)
• civic and/or institutional building (such as a library, school, community center, or postal facility)
• commercial building (such as an office building or other place of employment)
• public outdoor open space (such as a park, plaza, pedestrian corridor, or other type of public open space) 
• cultural destination (such as a religious center, museum, or other type of cultural center)
• medical facility (such as a doctors office, surgical center, urgent care facility, hospital, or general medical center)
• financial service (such as a bank, ATM, or cash machine).

2. Ensure the qualifying community destinations are accessible through public transit or a shuttle service that is located within a 1/2-mile or 800-meter walking route of:

• a main building entrance
• each community destination.

Amenities and community destinations must be located outside of the building submitting for certification.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated maps