Why Is It So Hard to Build Walkable Neighborhoods in the U.S.?

A recent article from Yale Climate Connections put it bluntly: “Building walkable U.S. neighborhoods is harder than it should be.” And honestly, they’re right.

Despite the growing demand for walkable, people-centric communities, many U.S. cities still prioritize cars over pedestrians, making it difficult to create vibrant, connected spaces where people can easily live, work, and shop without depending on a vehicle.

Sadly, there's places where the paths tell you there's a need for a sidewalk, but no sidewalk exists. Even in 2018, "desire paths" were being discussed.

The Data Tells the Story

A Nature Cities study compared walkability in different urban centers, and the contrast is staggering. In Zurich, 99.2% of residents live within a 15-minute walk from essential services like grocery stores, schools, and parks. In San Antonio, Texas? That number drops to just 2.5%. Two-point-five percent. That’s not just a gap—that’s a canyon of missed opportunities for better quality of life.

And yet, the demand for walkable spaces is rising. People want to live in places where they can stroll to their favorite coffee shop, pick up groceries without starting the car, and run into their neighbors while out for a walk. The desire is there, but the infrastructure? Not so much.

Why Are We Stuck?

One of the biggest challenges is zoning. Many cities still operate under outdated zoning laws that make it nearly impossible to build mixed-use developments—the kind of places where homes, shops, offices, and parks coexist. Instead, our urban planning has historically pushed residential, retail, and commercial spaces into separate zones, forcing people into cars to get from one to the other.

There’s also the issue of funding and incentives. Developers often find it easier (and sometimes more profitable) to build sprawling suburban developments because they fit within existing regulations and financing structures. Meanwhile, walkable, mixed-use projects often require zoning variances, extensive permitting, and sometimes even legal battles just to get started.

But There’s Hope

Despite these challenges, there are bright spots. Innovative projects like Culdesac Tempe in Arizona are proving that car-free, walkable communities can work—and thrive. This development was designed from the ground up to prioritize people over vehicles, with easy access to transit, bike paths, and essential services.

And outside Houston, two former farmers are designing better Places for People, Scott Snodgrass and Clayton Garrett are under construction with Indigo community. In addition to offering incremental retail for lease or sale to LOCAL retail and restaurants, no two homes neighboring each other are the same. There are mews for residents to connect and deep porches for us to enjoy the fresh air and plenty of walkable paths throughout the development.

And in the EaDo neighborhood of Houston, Texas, you can find beauties like this walk up window (no interior space for customers) - for EaDough.

Cities like Portland, Minneapolis, and even parts of Atlanta (authors note - "move faster Atlanta!") are also beginning to rethink their approach. Some areas are reducing parking minimums, allowing for denser housing, and experimenting with pedestrian-only zones.

What Can We Do?

The good news is that we don’t have to accept the status quo. There are tangible ways we can push for more walkable neighborhoods:

• Advocate for Zoning Reform: Support policies that allow for mixed-use development and eliminate outdated restrictions that favor car dependency.
• Prioritize Pedestrian Infrastructure: Push for more sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly public spaces in your community.
• Support Local Businesses in Walkable Areas: The more we frequent local shops and restaurants in pedestrian-friendly districts, the more we reinforce the demand for these spaces.
• Encourage Developers to Think Smaller, Not Bigger: Large-scale projects have their place, but small, incremental changes—like converting a parking lot into a pop-up market or turning a dead-end street into a pocket park—can have a huge impact.

The Future Is Walkable

We know that walkable communities improve our health, strengthen local economies, and make cities more resilient. We also know that they’re what people increasingly want.

So the question isn’t if we should build more walkable neighborhoods—it’s why aren’t we doing it faster?

Let’s work together to build something that truly serves people, not just cars.

Whether you’re a developer rethinking your next project, a local business looking for the right space, or a city leader shaping policy, we need your voice in this movement.

Let’s connect and make walkable, thriving neighborhoods a reality.

Let’s chat! Connect with us HERE.