Citizen Information - Neighborhood Quality of Life Study

Physical Dimension

Overview

The physical assets of a community are a valuable measure of neighborhood-level social capital and community livability. Viewed broadly, neighborhoods with poor infrastructure, poorly maintained housing stock or environmental problems are more likely to be neighborhoods at risk.

In a similar fashion, neighborhood vitality can be enhanced by strong and well serviced residential communities. The real and/or perceptual desirability of a neighborhood leads to active community involvement and private investment. Figure 7 contains the physical dimension results.

Analytical Variables

• Percent home ownership
• Percent residential apartment units
• Percent of single family dwellings older than 50 years
• Percent code enforcement
• Sidewalk index
• Percent of persons with access to public transportation
• Percent of persons with access to basic retail facilities
• Percent of persons with access to parks and recreation
• Percent of persons near noxious facilities
• Drainage index

Description

• Developing - NSAs exhibiting physical needs related to developing neighborhoods
• Sustaining - NSAs displaying physical needs related to mature neighborhoods
• Revitalizing - NSAs with physical challenges of older neighborhoods

Results

• Developing - 21 NSAs
• Sustaining - 71 NSAs
• Revitalizing - 25 NSAs

Figure 7
Physical Dimension Groupings