Some low-density neighbourhoods—particularly outside urban centres—may have planning rules or street networks that make it difficult to implement dementia-inclusive design.

 

For example, zoning may limit shops and services to specific areas that are farther away from housing. Many suburbs have long street blocks, which do not always follow a grid pattern. It can be costly and difficult to change the street grid or implement sidewalks on all streets. 

 

In these type of neighbourhoods, planners can start by considering smaller-scale interventions that will be most effective in the short term, such as:

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• Mid-block crossings to break up long street blocks

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• Zoning for small-scale, flexible retail, like home businesses or corner stores

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• Identifying priority walking routes or paths, and investing in sidewalks and other dementia-inclusive infrastructure along designated routes 

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Over time, planners can gradually add more ‘infill’ density, services, and amenities to these neighbourhoods, by concentrating interventions first in one or two key areas, and building outwards from there.