David Dixon Speaks About Walkable Density at the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference
Updated: 4 hours ago
In his remarks, Dixon emphasized the need to “get density right” to support walkable streets, transit, lively parks, and the ability to achieve other core community goals.
Connecting Density with Everyday Life
During his talk, David Dixon, FAIA, focused on walkable density through the lens of how it can enhance daily life. “Getting walkable density right is the foundation for bringing nearby lively Main Streets to life, bringing transit to where we live, and creating the kind of community that attracts good jobs and investment.”
For this panel discussion, he joined Laurie Volk (Zimmerman/Volk)—who focused on growing market support for denser, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods—and Marina Khoury (DPZ)—who focused on using design to bring human scale to density.
This approach links environmental sustainability with community vitality. The compact, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that walkable density unlocks reduce reliance on driving while bringing together the people and activities that sustain lively streets, local economies, and a strong sense of shared community.
“Walkable density brings homes, daily needs, and opportunities closer together, creating walkable neighborhoods that support the environment, strengthen local economies, and connect people.” — David Dixon, FAIA
Creating Lasting Community Value
Dixon repeatedly linked three words: density, walkability, and mixed-use. Density makes walkability and mixed-use possible. Together, they achieve broad community goals by creating the foundation for inclusive, welcoming neighborhoods that connect people to daily needs, economic opportunities, and one another. Together, these neighborhoods build cities and regions that are environmentally responsible and economically competitive and support healthier lives.
