Three essential words when choosing a place to live. More often than not, these words bring to mind things like ocean views. Waterfront homes. Downtown address. But increasingly, in the Charleston area and elsewhere, location is coming to mean something broader: Connection and quality of life. How can I live in a place where I can get to and from my home to the places I work or play or shop with a minimum of traffic and hassle?

How can my kids have fun with friends or get to and from school or other activities without my having to spend time, money, or pollution guilt on cars? How can I spend more time doing things I enjoy and less time commuting from point A to point B?

At I’On Group, we put a high premium on location in terms of walkability. We want to build communities that have lots of mixed uses, paths, and connections. And we focus our neighborhood building on areas of Charleston, Park Circle, and Mount Pleasant where we can improve and expand alternatives to the car such as bike paths, nearby amenities and transit. But how is one to know how truly walkable a neighborhood is?

Check out this neat new site that lets you rank your neighborhood’s walking score.

And check out this map that shows how far a walking mile takes you in a sprawling suburb compared to a compact neighborhood design. Take the test. Be part of the push for more walkable (and bikeable and bus and light rail-able) Lowcountry!

Filed under: I'On Group, I'On Village, Mixson, Morris Square on August 1st, 2007