The Premium on Walkability: How Car-Free Living is Reshaping Long Island Development
The American relationship with the automobile is changing. For decades, car ownership represented freedom, status, and convenience. This has been particularly true in suburban markets like Long Island. But a new generation of homebuyers is redefining what convenience means, and developers are responding with communities built around walkability rather than driveways.
Recent data confirms what B2K Development has witnessed firsthand at The Boardwalk: walkable neighborhoods now command significant price premiums, and buyers increasingly prioritize pedestrian-friendly environments where daily life happens within a few blocks rather than a few miles.
The Numbers Behind the Walking Trend
According to recent analysis from Realtor.com®, the shift toward walkable communities isn’t just a preference, it’s a market force driving measurable value. Homebuyers are willing to pay premium prices for the ability to walk to restaurants, shops, transit, and community amenities rather than depending on cars for every errand.
This trend reflects broader changes in how people want to live. The pandemic accelerated desires for community connection and neighborhood vibrancy. Remote and hybrid work reduced commuting needs for many professionals. Younger buyers entering the market grew up with different transportation expectations than previous generations. Together, these factors are reshaping residential real estate across the country, including traditionally car-dependent suburban markets.
Long Island’s Walkability Evolution
Long Island presents unique challenges and opportunities for walkable development. Built largely during the post-war suburban boom, much of the region was designed explicitly around automobile use. Wide roads, separated uses. and car-centric planning created communities where driving was necessity, not choice.
But pockets of walkability have always existed in village centers, downtown areas, and waterfront communities where shops, restaurants, and residences cluster together. These areas consistently maintain property values and attract buyers specifically seeking pedestrian-oriented lifestyles.
The Boardwalk in Long Beach represents B2K Development’s response to this market demand. Located directly on Long Beach’s iconic boardwalk, the community provides residents immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean, three miles of pedestrian paths, and a vibrant collection of restaurants, shops, and services, all without needing a car.
“We’re seeing a real shift toward people wanting to live where they can walk to everything: food, fitness, transit, convenience, and community,” says Steven Krieger, Chief Executive Officer of B2K Development. “The response has been tremendous. Buyers want the ability to live in a place where their daily routine — morning coffee, a workout, dinner with friends — can happen without ever getting in a car.”
With 60% of The Boardwalk’s 192 condominiums already sold, the market has validated this approach.
What Makes Communities Walkable
Walkability isn’t simply about sidewalks. Truly pedestrian-friendly communities require thoughtful integration of several elements:
Mixed-Use Development
Combining residential, retail, dining, and services in close proximity creates destinations within walking distance. The Boardwalk achieves this by incorporating ground-floor retail and restaurant space alongside residential units.
Quality Pedestrian Infrastructure
Wide sidewalks, safe crossings, attractive streetscapes, and well-lit paths make walking pleasant rather than merely possible. The Long Beach boardwalk itself provides a premier pedestrian environment enhanced by The Boardwalk’s design.
Proximity to Transit
Access to public transportation extends walkability’s benefits beyond the immediate neighborhood. Long Beach’s LIRR connection provides car-free access to New York City and other destinations.
Community Amenities
Parks, fitness facilities, gathering spaces, and recreational opportunities within the development itself reduce the need for driving to external locations.
Density and Scale
Walkable communities require sufficient residential density to support local businesses while maintaining a human scale that encourages pedestrian activity.
The Lifestyle Advantage
Beyond property values, walkable communities offer lifestyle benefits that resonate with today’s buyers:
Health and Wellness
Walking as part of daily routine provides effortless exercise. Proximity to oceanfront paths, as at The Boardwalk, enhances this advantage.
Social Connection
Chance encounters with neighbors, spontaneous meetups at local cafes, and regular interaction with familiar faces build community bonds that car-dependent suburbs often lack.
Environmental Impact
Reduced driving means lower carbon footprints and less traffic congestion, increasingly important to environmentally conscious buyers.
Economic Flexibility
Lower transportation costs from reduced car dependence create household budget flexibility. Some residents can even eliminate second vehicles.
Time Savings
Walking to destinations often proves faster than driving when parking and traffic are considered. Time saving on commuting and errands improves quality of life.
Aging in Place
As residents age, walkable communities allow continued independence even after driving becomes more difficult.
Designing for Pedestrians First
Creating genuinely walkable communities requires different development thinking from the start. “Where will residents park?” is a question replaced by “What can residents walk to?”
At The Boardwalk, this pedestrian-first approach influenced every design decision. Unit layouts maximize views of the ocean and boardwalk, the primary pedestrian amenity. Ground-floor retail was planned specifically to serve residents’ daily needs. Indoor and outdoor amenities were designed to encourage residents to gather without leaving the property.
The result is a community where car ownership remains optional rather than required. While parking is available for those who maintain vehicles, the development’s success doesn’t depend on every residents driving daily.
The Investment Case for Walkability
Price Premiums
Research consistently shows walkable neighborhoods command higher property values. Buyers pay for the lifestyle benefits and convenience.
Faster Sales
Properties in walkable communities often sell quicker than comparable units in car-dependent areas. The Boardwalk’s strong sales pace confirms this market demand.
Tenant Retention
For rental properties, walkable locations typically see higher tenant satisfaction and longer tenancies, reducing turnover costs.
Future-Proofing
As preferences continue shifting toward pedestrian-oriented living, walkable developments will likely maintain value better than car-dependent alternatives.
Reduced Parking Costs
When fewer residents drive regularly, developments can allocate less space and capital to parking infrastructure, improving project economics.
Long Island’s Walkable Future
The success of projects like The Boardwalk suggests Long Island’s development patterns may be evolving. While the region will always include car-oriented suburban areas, demand clearly exists for walkable alternatives, particularly in waterfront locations and existing village centers.
Future development opportunities might include:
Transit-Oriented Development
Building higher-density, mixed-use communities near LIRR stations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Downtown Revitalization
Strengthening existing village centers by adding residential density above ground-floor retail and improving pedestrian infrastructure.
Waterfront Activation
Following The Boardwalk’s model in other Long Island waterfront locations with similar pedestrian amenities and mixed-use potential.
Adaptive Reuse
Converting underutilized commercial properties into mixed-use developments that create new walkable nodes.
Lessons from The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk’s market success offers several lessons for Long Island development:
Location Matters
Walkability works best where natural amenities (beaches, parks, waterfronts) or existing infrastructure (village centers, transit stations) already attract pedestrian activity.
Quality Design
Walkable doesn’t mean compromising on luxury or amenities. The Boardwalk demonstrates that pedestrian-oriented living can coexist with high-end finishes and resort-style amenities.
Mixed-Use Integration
Ground-floor retail and restaurant space creates immediate walkable destinations while activating street life that makes pedestrian environments more appealing.
Community Building
Shared amenities and gathering spaces foster the social connections that make walkable communities more than just convenient. They become genuine neighborhoods.
Looking Ahead
As The Boardwalk nears sellout and other walkable Long Island communities demonstrate similar market success, the message is clear: buyers will pay premiums for well-designed, pedestrian-oriented living.
This doesn’t mean every development should prioritize walkability. Long Island’s diversity of communities, from rural estates to dense urban cores, will always include car-dependent options. But developers, municipalities, and planners should recognize that significant market demand exists for walkable alternatives — demand currently exceeding supply in many Long Island markets.
For B2K Development, The Boardwalk represents both validation of market insights and inspiration for future projects. Understanding what buyers truly want, not just housing, but lifestyle, community, and daily convenience, guides every development decision we make.
As we look toward future projects the lessons from The Boardwalk’s success will inform our approach: prioritize the pedestrian experience, create genuine mixed-use environments, leverage natural and community assets, and recognize that sometimes the best way forward is on foot.
For the purposes of this article, walkability describes the extent to which the built and natural environment is safe, accessible, and comfortable for pedestrian use without the use of public transportation or automobiles.
The Boardwalk, located on Long Beach’s iconic boardwalk, offers luxury oceanfront living with immediate access to three miles of pedestrian paths, restaurants, shops, and direct beach access. For more information, visit The Boardwalk website.