Results
In our first analysis, we tested if the addition of a cafe within our target area would impact the distance to the closest cafe or restaurant from each of the target DAs (Figure 3)
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Figure 3: Distance to Closest Cafe or Restaurant Before and After the Addition of a New Proposed Cafe in West Point Grey
In DA1, the addition of another café was found to be beneficial. Even though the new café was not located within the 400 m buffer, it was found to be only 666m away from the population weighted centroid. This is 222 m closer than the nearest cafe or restaurant on West 10th Avenue. We expect this decrease in distance would increase Walk Score slightly by increasing coffee score.
The new café had the greatest impact for DA2, as their trip distance decreased from 819m to 321m . It fell within the 400m buffer, meaning the residents commute to their local café would be less than 5 minutes. This would improve coffee score, and likely increase the Walk Score significantly for this DA, as the new location is much closer than all of the previously existing locations.
The addition of the new café would have little impact on the distance to the closest cafe or restaurant for residents in DA3. The distance to cafes on 10th (546m) would remain closer than if the residents were to go to the proposed café, which was 700m away. The distance to the new café would have barely fallen within the 800m buffer, meaning residents of this DA would have to walk close to 10 minutes to get to the new café. This would have little effect on the Walk Score for DA3.
For DA4, the addition of the new café would have had no impact on the Walk Score for the DA since the population weighted centroid was found on the Eastern side of the DA - well outside both the 400m and 800m buffer. Thus, the Walk Score for DA4 would not have changed after adding in the new café.
In our second analysis, we tested if the addition of a grocery store within our target area would impact the distance to the closest grocery or liquor store from each of the target DAs (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Distance to Closest Grocery Store Before and After the Addition of a New Proposed Grocery Store in West Point Grey
In DA1, the addition of the proposed grocery store would help increase the Walk Score slightly. The grocery store would not fall within the 400m buffer, but would be 666m away. This distance would still be closer than the stores on 10th avenue, which were 888m away. Thus, the placement of the new grocery store would be beneficial to the residents within DA1 and slightly increase the Walk Score.
The proposed grocery store would have the greatest impact on DA2. The introduction of the new grocery store would mean that the walk to the proposed store would be less than 5 minutes away for all residents within this DA. The new grocery store would be only 321m away, compared to the stores on West 10th avenue, which were 1249m away. This would increase the Walk Score of the neighborhood by a large amount, since maximum points are awarded to locations within a 5-minute walking distance for Walk Score.
For DA3, residents would remain closer to grocery stores on West 10th avenue, even after the addition of a new grocery store. This means that the proposed location would have little effect on Walk Score. Similarly, the new grocery store in the target location would have no little on the residents in DA4. Since the population weighted centroid was found in the Eastern section of the DA, the introduction of the proposed grocery store would not increase the Walk Score of DA4.
Overall, the introduction of a new grocery store or café at our proposed location in West Point Grey would positively impact the Walk Scores of both DA1 and DA2, while having a neutral impact on DA3 and DA4 (Figure 5 and 6). Our aim was to increase the Walk Score of West Point Grey. The introduction of our new amenities would create a positive improvement in walkability for residents in DA1 and DA2. Through the placement of a café, grocery store and or community garden, we would expect that the DAs and our target population of older adults would have greater access to food services and may see an increase in physical activity due to increase opportunities for utilitarian walking.
Figure 5: Distances to Closest Grocery Store from Population Weighted Centroids (Before & After proposed location)
Figure 6: Distances to Closest Cafe from Population Weighted Centroids (Before & After proposed location)
