ABSTRACT

In neighborhoods and districts that have a well-balanced land-use mix, people have easy access to the kinds of places and services that enable healthy behaviors along with good transportation to link to destinations elsewhere. Neighborhoods with mixed land uses and other more temporary activities provide some of the health advantages of a healthy neighborhood. One commonly cited advantage of mixed use neighborhoods is increased interaction among residents and activity on the street. Foord's review of policy and research literature, and a London-based neighborhood case study on mixed use neighborhoods, finds insufficient evidence that mix contributes to social cohesion and urban vitality. According to Foord's review, mixed use neighborhoods rarely include housing and schools necessary for all residents, especially for families with children, and older adults. Proponents of mixed use layouts argue that co-locating activities in a neighborhood or district has the potential to improve environmental quality.