Long-Range Community Improvement Projects Publications and Resources

The Tools Long-Range Projects

These placemaking solutions can take many years to put in place

Editor's Note: The Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, AARP Livable Communities' partner in creating , has closed shop. However, the 40-page publication the nonprofit helped develop in 2015 remains a valuable resource for communities and local leaders. The transformations presented here show real locations as they appeared during visits by AARP and WALC between 2010 and 2015. WALC helped each community develop a vision for the future, and it created photovisions to reflect those changes and how each place could be made better. With short-term and mid-range treatments in place, the area becomes safer and more attractive to residents and others, including developers. When that happens, new policies and mixed-use development can help transform a street or entire neighborhood into a more livable and prosperous place. Long-range initiatives can be relatively low-cost, especially if they're focused on policy change, but the efforts generally take several years to fully implement.

Liner Buildings

Photo by the WALC Institute A liner building in Kingston, Washington. Sprawling development and "strip malls" commonly feature buildings that are set back from the street with large surface parking lots in front. Liner buildings help convert this type of development into a pedestrian-scaled area by replacing a part of the surface parking with buildings that "line" the edge of the former parking lot and are close to the street and adjacent to sidewalks. Transparency (i.e. the amount of window space) is an important feature and benefit of liner buildings, which, when located in retail areas, should be at least 70 percent "transparent" on the street-facing side. Liner buildings create a sense of place, enhance the liveliness of a community and, as "eyes on the street," its safety. Over time, the old strip mall-style buildings can be redeveloped so the entire area becomes more of an urban village.

Mixed-Use Development

Photo by Dan Burden A mixed-use building in Davis, California. Buildings that are designed for mixed uses are more efficient than single-use and single-floor buildings, and they contribute to a more prosperous, people-friendly environment. A building of two to eight stories, with retail on the bottom floor facing the street and office or residential uses on the upper floors, creates a much higher return on investment, with greater long-term tax revenue and a more walkable and healthy community. This article, "The Tools Long-Range Projects," was adapted from , which was published in Spring 2015 by and the , written by Kelly Morphy and Robert Ping (WALC) and project managed and edited by Jeanne Anthony and Melissa Stanton (AARP)
Download the collection or select from the 11 individual fact sheets.

Our Other Don t Miss Resources Include

(pictured)




Stay Informed:

Featured Video

Learn how to check the "livability score" of any address in the U.S.

Stay Informed — For Free

The weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter provides local leaders with information and inspiration for making their town, city or neighborhood more livable for older adults and people of all ages.

AARP org Livable

Enter a topic, name, place, etc. See past issues:

Our Free Publications

See the complete list at

Follow Us

Facebook: Twitter:

Contact Us

Email AARP Livable Communities at .

Ask about the AARP Livability Index by completing this .

AARP Members: For questions about your benefits, AARP The Magazine or the AARP Bulletin, visit the page or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.