The idea of utopia has long been a parochial intellectual interest of mine. From Thomas More to BF Skinner, I’ve always been fascinated by this idea. When it comes to promotion, wellnessBut can such a place exist in a modern urban environment?
Of course, those with knowledge of literature are well aware that utopia actually means “nowhere” and that such a perfect living space does not actually exist. Still, that doesn’t stop developers from striving for healthier, more walkable, and greener developments, especially when it comes to communities for older Americans.
“We wanted to live downtown. It looked and felt good. We liked the energy.”
Marta and Bradley Pollitt, who moved to Water Street Tampa five months ago, found the community to be “an alternative to most age-restricted communities.” Brad, a retired architect, championed the walkability and sustainability features of the development.
“We moved from a suburb near Gainesville where we had to get in the car to go everywhere,” he said. “There’s a grocery store downstairs on Water Street and a drug store across the street, so you have somewhere to stop for a snack or dinner.”
Elements of walkability
Water Street Tampa is an ambitious project that seeks to check most of the boxes for a wellness-focused community. Although there are still some concerns, its planners and developers are pushing the envelope on how to foster a healthy environment that fosters social connection.
Marta says she’s “excited to see more services coming to the neighborhood,” but is encouraged by the variety of people she meets as she walks around. “We want to live downtown,” Marta said. It looked good and I loved the energy.” She is a retired fundraiser who worked at the University of Florida.
Developed by Strategic Property Partners (SPP), Water Street Tampa is located on the southeast corner of downtown Tampa, within walking distance of restaurants, retail, museums, and a hockey arena (home of the Tampa Bay Lightning). It is an extension of an evolving model of walkable urban neighborhoods.
Unique in the US so far
The 6-acre development adheres to the WELL Community Standards, which focus on more than 100 individual features that promote high air and water quality, fitness, comfort, light, nutrition, and mental/emotional health. . Similar to LEED or Energy Star certification, the WELL standard is more comprehensive in that it focuses on wellness as it applies to the design of an entire region.
There are 11 WELL Certified communities around the world, but Water Street Tampa is currently the only one in the United States.
“Walkable streets connect homes, offices, shops, and hotels.”
Brad Cook, SPP’s executive vice president of development, said the first phase of Water Steet includes 1,300 housing units, including rental apartments and 37 condominiums. He acknowledges that residents need cars to get around the greater Tampa area, but his company’s goal is to create a “vibrant approach to living that takes advantage of the city’s pocket parks and street life.” ” was to be created. His company wanted to answer the question, “What makes a community promote health and well-being?”
“Designed to deepen people’s interaction with the urban landscape,” SPP says on its website, “With its natural surroundings and each other, Water Street Tampa embraces well-being and outdoor living. Easy to walk. “The streets will connect homes, offices, shops and hotels, all along an accessible waterfront.” . ”
With support from the International WELL Building Institute, the group in 2018 “implemented a health and wellbeing-focused strategy to foster a strong community identity and build inclusive, integrated and resilient communities.” We have begun piloting the WELL Community Standards as a district-wide roadmap to support the High levels of social interaction and engagement. ”
utopia price tag
Cook said Water Street Tampa’s current housing ranges from three-building rental apartments at Heron, Cora and Usher to hotel-branded condominiums. Rent at Heron starts at $4,144 for a 688 square foot one-bedroom apartment. Cora has 388 units, ranging from her 451-square-foot studio to his three-bedroom apartment for $1,827. Asher has 393 apartments ranging from studios to two bedrooms, with prices starting at $2,065. The Tampa version of the condos are sold out, but prices start at $2 million.
Rents have increased in almost every city since the pandemic, but some apartments on Water Street are priced at a premium compared to downtown Tampa’s median rent of $2,657, according to Zumper.com. This is already 36% higher than the US average. .
The popular Pirate Festival and other events come to downtown Tampa. Additionally, this community has access to Tampa’s Riverwalk, which connects the Arts District to the waterfront and several museums. A greenway with space for pedestrians, runners, and cyclists runs beneath the busy highway. Also nearby is his TECO line of wooden trolleys in Tampa, connecting the business district with Ybor City’s historic district.
A walk through downtown Tampa shows that the Water Street development blends well with the crowded urban space, but there are some unavoidable location issues. The area is home to major highways, so clean air quality is not guaranteed. Traffic congestion may occur during home hockey games.
Although there are many signalized crosswalks, they are often not properly marked or timed for pedestrians with disabilities. There is much more parking than green space. In the heart of a city, there is no equivalent to a large central park that breaks up the complexity of the city.
Although there are no extensive trails or commuter rail systems connecting Water Street to metropolitan Tampa or other cities, further expansion of private rail lines is planned. The Riverwalk also offers more shade and seating, essential amenities during the sweltering heat of Florida’s ever-longer hot season.
Still, an intentional focus on walkability as a component of health, especially when addressing the dual concerns of longevity and climate change, is gaining ground in new developments adopting the concept of “new urbanism.” It has gained. Walkable communities not only have a smaller carbon footprint—people probably drive less and walk more—but they also often have cleaner air and far more social interaction. We can provide opportunities for interaction.
“Why do neighborhoods promote health and well-being?”
Numerous studies show that walkable urban spaces are not only desirable for older Americans, but are also associated with improved overall health. One national study found that “people who live in walkable neighborhoods engage in moderate physical activity, walk closer to home, and are more likely to meet established indicators of obesity than those who live in walkable neighborhoods.” It has been shown that certain body mass indexes (BMI) tend to be lower. Neighbors. ” Unfortunately, the most walkable cities, as measured by Walk Score, also tend to be the most expensive.
There are many other communities around the world that are trying to connect wellness and the environment, which I covered in previous articles. The key point, however, is that they’re getting easier to find, especially when it comes to companies that are genuinely trying to reduce their carbon footprint and increase overall well-being.
