Walk Score of 42 for Stapleton? (Denver, Boulder: house, neighborhood, to buy)

[Ol' Wanderer]

While looking at Stapleton as a possible relocation next year, I'm surprise to see it only earns 42 with Walk Score along with the comment "Car-Dependent."

Since we've never been to Stapleton specifically, although we've visited Denver many times during the years our daughter lived in Boulder, I cannot determine for myself whether the score is correct.

We're retirees and doing our best to drive only when we must. Should we ignore the score and believe instead that everything is within walking distance in that neighborhood? If so, why the low score?

[woob]

most of the shopping in stapleton is big box that requires a car. i don't think there a main street with local shops that you can walk to. "new urbanism" seems to be suburban with smaller yards.

[zenkonami]

Stapleton is not really that great about proper "new urbanism." At least not yet...it may or may not get there in the future. It's a great neighborhood, and it does have something of a "main street" (albeit on one end of the whole neighborhood), but it would be more appropriate at the moment to call it "new suburban." You can get around great on a bike, there are myriad parks for walking, but given some of the distances between housing and actual commerical / industrial / civic infrastructure, I can see why Walk Score gives us such low marks.

[Ol' Wanderer]

According to Walk Score, within 1.1 miles of the address I entered, there are 15 restaurants, 3 parks, 1 library, 4 bars, 3 cinemas, 5 markets, 2 pharmacies, 1 legal marijuana dispensary, and 9 banks.

All the big boxes and a whole lot more are within 2 miles.

I wonder why that many shops and POIs do not help to raise the score? Is 1.1 miles too far to walk for most people? We walk 5 miles daily as part of our exercise but not in high altitude, so perhaps that does not count. When we need something from the market, we do walk 1.5 miles each way while carrying bags of groceries.

[Ol' Wanderer]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

It's a great neighborhood, and it does have something of a "main street" (albeit on one end of the whole neighborhood)

Which street is it? The address I'm looking at is on Roslyn, between E.28th Ave and E.29th Ave, is it near the end of the neighborhood you mentioned?

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by woob

most of the shopping in stapleton is big box that requires a car. i don't think there a main street with local shops that you can walk to. "new urbanism" seems to be suburban with smaller yards.

That is so true, and with limited parking. Even though you need a car to get anywhere to shop.

[earthlyfather]

Where does one search for walk scores?

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by earthlyfather

Where does one search for walk scores?

Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address

[cowboyxjon]

WalkScore basically uses a formula that takes the type of POI into account, too. So for instance, if an address is within walking distance of, say, a lot of boutique clothing stores and coffee shops, but isn't within walking distance of a grocery store or a library, the WalkScore still might be on the low side, since one would have to drive to the grocery store to buy food or drive to the library to use it. Etc. At least this is my understanding of how it works.

I like Stapleton, but most of the amenities are on the edges of the development, at least for now, so it's possible for a Stapleton home to have a low WalkScore.

[DenverLawGal]

I think you are right cowboy. And to the OP, the walk score to me is just a guide, as you don't know if it will fit you personally. Compared to my area (Thornton or NoTho haha) Stapleton is a dream as to walkability. So it's kind of relative. I love Stapleton and want to move there if I can ever unload my house in Thornton. It's walkable enough for me.