Walkscore.com just released new data suggesting that Printer's Row is the most walkable neighborhood in Chicago! Dearborn Park ranks 5th and the broader South Loop ranks 31st. The boundaries are a little misleading and could skew the numbers, but regardless it's good to see Printer's Row get some positive press.
It is a little weird to see Dearborn Park classified as a it's own unique neighborhood, though.
For those of you who are interested to see where Chicago ranked in the country you might be surprised to see us ranked 4th behind NYC (not surprising), San Fran (not surprising) and Boston (sort of surprising).
For the curious readers the methodology behind the website click here to get more information. They use a variety of sources ranging from Google, Education.com, Open Street Map, and Localeze.
(Hat tip: JG!)
(Image from: walkscore.com)
9 comments:
This is fabulous news. We chose Printer's Row for its great walkability. I'm so pleased to see the area getting better all the time. Now, if we could only get a local coffee house...
The scores are misleading. If you gerrymander the neighborhoods in a different way, you'll get completely different scores. "Dearborn Park" is only as high as it is because it's small and close to many South Loop amenities. Make the area of the South Loop right by the Jewel its own neighborhood and the score will be through the roof. A good model would not have borders as such and score by a uniform measurement throughout the city (maybe by square miles). But comparing giant neighborhoods to tiny ones is just ridiculous.
Gourmand & Mediterra are greatly missed on Dearborn.
I can't believe the space has been empty for almost 2 years now! It's all set for a coffee house/cafe.
" If you gerrymander the neighborhoods in a different way, you'll get completely different scores. "Dearborn Park" is only as high as it is because it's small and close to many South Loop amenities."
Walkably close, would you say? I think you miss the point. I don't the score is bound by, only centered on the neighbourhood.
@ Rich Hughes: Actually, I think I do get the point. Realtors love to gerrymander the city to promote one neighborhood over another. It's misleading and dishonest.
I wonder if the ever-present threat of being mugged while walking through your neighborhood hurts a "walkability score"?
I wonder if the ever-present paranoid Sloopin commenters ever make it out of their front doors.
Don't trolls usually lurk under bridges ?
Two reasons why Printer's Row is most walkable neighborhood in the city: (a) it's the smallest neighborhoos in the city (you can walk across the entire neighborhood in less than 15 minutes); and (b) very little vehicular traffic (not many through streets).
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