All Indicators

Total retail sales divided by total square feet of retail space.

• To identify new business opportunities that can create more local revenue to benefit all community members.
• To measure the positive impact that increasing multi-modal (walk, bike, and transit) access to retail areas can have on retail activity and sales revenue.
• To determine areas that do and do not have access to retail areas within a 15-minute walk, bike-ride, or public transportation trip and which may benefit from increased investments in active transportation infrastructure and access.

• Work with communities to identify how and where to reinvest additional tax revenue.
• Utilize planning, zoning, and permitting practices to intentionally mix residential land uses with retail, commercial, and service activities; this includes placing residences above housing in multi-story urban and village centers, and placing small retail clusters in residential neighborhoods.
• Support the creation of local Business Improvement Districts that are led by and serve local entrepreneurs, including entrepreneurs of color, to help them market their neighborhoods and attract more customers.
• Improve pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access to retail districts to accommodate and welcome a more diverse group of customers and employees.

Number of businesses meeting the local definition of “small” (e.g., < 100 employees)

• To measure the positive impact that increasing multi-modal (walk, bike, and transit) access to retail, business, and commercial areas can have on the number and variety of small businesses.
• To measure the positive impact that increasing multi-modal (walk, bike, and transit) access to essential workers provides to small businesses.
• To identify neighborhoods for growth and innovation.
• To support resilient economic development based on a mix of business types and sizes.

• Work with local agencies or neighborhood associations to collect data about the distribution, sizes, and types of businesses within a particular area.
• Develop training programs to help women, immigrants, entrepreneurs of color, and entrepreneurs with low-to-moderate incomes become small business owners and community leaders.
• Address zoning that erects barriers limiting where small businesses can locate or favors strip malls and large-format development not suitable for small businesses.
• Set aside space for local businesses in new development projects (e.g., require a portion of first-floor space for locally owned businesses as a condition of permitting).
• Create a small business office or position within city government to provide guidance to business owners and to serve as a liaison between small businesses and policymakers.
• Ensure zoning codes allow for cottage businesses and residential retail units that can support economic growth and increase tax revenue with minimal disruption to traditional single-family neighborhoods.
• Consider making street vending licenses more accessible, particularly for healthy food.

Total number of employed adults divided by total adult workforce.

• To measure the positive impact that increasing multi-modal access to business and commercial areas can have on the number and variety of employment opportunities (particularly for potential employees within walk, bike, and transit distance).
• To identify communities that may benefit from increased job opportunities with livable wages.
• To identify communities where affordable, accessible commuting options would improve access to quality job opportunities and to workers.

• Provide multi-modal commute options for employees who do not drive, particularly essential workers who do not have access to personal vehicles. 
• Pursue multi-modal street enhancements that are safe and comfortable for all users in downtown and retail districts to boost business activity and employment opportunities.  
• Provide quality pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure to improve access to businesses for a broader array of employees and customers.
• Partner with employers to implement transportation demand management (TDM) initiatives combining incentives (e.g., subsidized/free transit and bike share access; quality bike parking, lockers, and showers; financial rewards for active commuting) and disincentives (e.g., restricted and market rate vehicle parking), to provide lower cost commute options, especially for lower income and essential workers.
• Expand public transportation options that provide stable jobs and access to jobs for community members.

The percentage of residential property that is unoccupied. A “good” vacancy rate helps ensure neighborhoods are desirable and affordable and varies depending on the rental and housing market of a given town or city. Typically, this rate is between 5–8%. 

• To determine a balanced number of units available and unavailable in a community.
• To identify causes of unusually low average vacancy rates (e.g., housing shortages; high percentage of short-term vacation rentals) or high average vacancy rates (e.g., unappealing to renters or oversupply of units) and develop programs to address the causes.

• Empower community residents to identify solutions and make decisions on how to revitalize their communities.
• Encourage developers to build affordable housing based on community needs and context.
• Establish “Just-Cause” eviction ordinances to protect current tenants.
• Convene a coalition across different sectors (e.g., public, private, nonprofit, policy) and the community at-large to ensure that redevelopment serves the community’s interest.
• Provide a range of housing sizes, types, and costs (see “housing affordability”).
• Consider a higher property tax rate on vacant houses and/or short term vacation rentals.

The cost of housing as a percentage of income.

• To determine how many households pay too much for housing.
• To prioritize where to make investments to support a range of housing options (e.g., to help more people live close to jobs, to increase discretionary income).

• Build more compact, mixed housing types in neighborhoods where housing demand is high.
• Eliminate unnecessary parking requirements.
• Encourage a mix of housing types and sizes to allow families with kids, empty nesters, young adults, and people of all ages and abilities to live next to each other.
• Specifically develop zoning incentives and requirements to assure a variety of housing types, sizes, and costs, including row houses and townhomes; multi-family units (duplexes, quads, etc.); accessory dwelling units (such as over-garage and garden apartments); tiny homes; and other creative approaches.
• Implement property tax abatements for low-income homeowners.
• Provide regulatory incentives to developers to build affordable housing.

State or local tax revenues on real estate.

• To determine how much additional fiscal value has been created following activity-friendly community investments, such as walk, bike, and transit infrastructure.
• To identify areas with quickly rising property values to inform policies and protections for financially vulnerable residents.

• Educate property developers and owners with examples showing that pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly designs do not diminish property values or community character, and in most cases add attributes that are highly valued by home buyers and potential employees.
• Reinvest increased public revenue in goods and services that respond to community needs (e.g., quality public spaces, discounted transit cards).
• Provide incentives to developers in exchange for community benefits.
• Earmark a portion of anticipated tax revenue increases to mitigate displacement.
• Offer tenant protections from condo conversions if property values increase.
• Zone for a wider range of housing options that are specific to the needs and context of a community.