COVINGTON SCORES MIXED FOR WALKABILITY

by Michael Monks 

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A five-year old website ranks the walkable nature of cities across the United States and Covington's urban core scores pretty high while the southern end is qualifies as "car dependent". Slate writes this week about Walk Score: 

Launched in 2007 as part of a series of “civic software” initiatives, Walk Score instantly went viral, and quickly become an institution, particularly in the world of real estate. Walk Score numbers are found on every Zillow listing and on more than 10,000 realtor websites nationwide. Some agencies even allow customers to search for properties by Walk Score. “Even if it’s not the highest Walk Score, people want to know what their neighborhood is going to be like,” says Lerner, as we sit watching a live stream of real-time Walk Score inquiries on a large screen, a flickering array of dots from Los Angeles to Capetown. “They might want the closest grocery store to be two blocks away, but even if it isn’t, they want to know how far it is. What’s the closest place to get coffee? Are there parks and schools nearby?” 

Walking in Mainstrasse

Read the full article here. The site finds favorable results for Covington against other cities in Kentucky, ranking the city in a tie for second with Winchester at a score of 49 (Only St. Matthews, a Louisville suburb, ranks higher at 59). The website allows users to see general rankings across a city and more specifically on individual blocks. For example, Mainstrasse, Covington's hub for entertainment and retail options, is described on the website as: 

Main St Covington KY 41011 has a Walk Score of 88. This location is Very Walkable which means most errands can be accomplished on foot.

A general search for Covington's overall calculation shows a much lower number which is 49 and rated "car dependent". However, it appears that the ranking only calculates the areas encompassed by the 41014 zip code. Covington's urban core zip code of 41011 ranks better: 

41011 has a Walk Score of 60. This location is Somewhat Walkable which means some amenities are within walking distance. 

In the more suburban zip code of 41015, which is where you will find South Covington and parts of Latonia, the score is predictably lower: 

41015 has a Walk Score of 17. This location is Car-Dependent which means almost all errands require a car. 

One cool feature of the searchable database is that you can enter individual addresses to guage the walkability of the neighborhood:

Southern Ave Covington KY 41015 has a Walk Score of 63. This location is Somewhat Walkable which means some amenities are within walking distance. 

Pike St Covington KY 41011 has a Walk Score of 85. This location is Very Walkable which means most errands can be accomplished on foot. 

Pampas Ct Covington KY 41015 has a Walk Score of 20. This location is Car-Dependent which means almost all errands require a car. 

E 2nd St Covington KY 41011 has a Walk Score of 82. This location is Very Walkable which means most errands can be accomplished on foot. 

Euclid Ave Covington KY 41014 has a Walk Score of 54. This location is Somewhat Walkable which means some amenities are within walking distance. 

Highway Ave Covington KY 41016 has a Walk Score of 46. This location is Car-Dependent which means a few amenities are within walking distance. 

The website also offers a score for transit options in the same search results. The "walkability" of a city is becoming increasingly important as residents return to the inner city in search of urban living experiences. From GOOD: 

According to a new survey, more than three quarters of us consider having sidewalks and places to take a walk one of our top priorities when deciding where to live. Six in 10 people also said they would sacrifice a bigger house to live in a neighborhood that featured a mix of houses, stores, and businesses within an easy walk.

The news bodes well for Covington as the city continues its revitalization efforts to attract new residents and businesses. A walk through Covington's urban core is simple and offers views of two rivers, historic architecture, and a city returning to life.