By Ben Walderman, Palm Springs, CA

I Used to Think Location Was Mostly About the View

When I first started paying close attention to real estate and business development in Palm Springs, I thought people mostly cared about the obvious things. Mountain views. Pool space. Modern architecture. Privacy. Those were the features that seemed to come up in almost every conversation.

They still matter, of course. I would never suggest otherwise.

But after spending years talking with property owners, business operators, and people relocating to the area, I have realized that another factor keeps showing up in conversations. It is something that often gets overlooked until people actually experience it.

Walkability.

It sounds simple, maybe even a little boring compared to luxury homes or boutique hotels. Yet I have become convinced that walkable neighborhoods are one of Palm Springs’ biggest strengths. In some cases, I think they add more long-term value than features that are far more expensive to build.

That realization did not happen overnight. It came from watching how people actually use the city once they move here.

People Want to Feel Connected to Their Community

One thing I have noticed is that buyers are asking different questions than they did ten or fifteen years ago.

They still ask about square footage and renovations, but more often I hear questions like, “Can I walk to coffee?” or “How far is it to downtown?” or “Can we leave the car parked for the weekend?”

At first, I thought these were just convenience questions. The more I listened, though, the more I realized they were really asking something else.

They wanted to know if they could become part of the neighborhood instead of simply living in it.

There is a difference.

Driving from one place to another gets you where you need to go. Walking lets you notice your surroundings. You recognize familiar faces. You stop into businesses you had not planned to visit. You discover restaurants that never would have appeared on a map search.

That kind of connection is difficult to measure, but it changes how people feel about where they live.

Walkability Helps Local Businesses More Than We Sometimes Realize

I have worked with enough small business owners to know that foot traffic matters.

Someone walking through downtown Palm Springs is much more likely to step into a bookstore, grab an iced coffee, browse a local boutique, or stop for lunch than someone driving from one parking lot to another.

Some of the strongest businesses I have seen are not necessarily located on the busiest roads. They are located where people naturally spend time.

That distinction is important.

A neighborhood that encourages walking creates opportunities for businesses that might otherwise struggle to attract attention. Customers make spontaneous decisions when they are on foot. They have time to look around instead of focusing on traffic or finding parking.

I honestly think that benefits everyone.

The customer discovers something new. The business gains another visitor. The neighborhood becomes more active.

It creates momentum that is difficult to replicate any other way.

It Is Not Always Easy to Balance Growth

That said, I do not think creating walkable neighborhoods is as simple as adding wider sidewalks or planting more trees.

Growth always comes with tradeoffs.

As Palm Springs becomes more popular, demand for housing increases. Developers understandably want to maximize available land. Businesses want greater visibility. Residents want convenience while also preserving the quieter character that drew them here in the first place.

Those goals do not always line up perfectly.

I sometimes find myself wondering where the balance should be.

How much growth is healthy? How much density supports local businesses without changing the personality of the community?

I do not pretend to have perfect answers. I actually think asking those questions is part of responsible planning.

Walking Changes the Way You Experience a City

One thing I enjoy about Palm Springs is that the city invites you to slow down.

That might sound unusual in a conversation about economic development, but I think it matters.

When I walk instead of drive, I notice details that completely disappear behind a windshield. I notice new murals, landscaping changes, seasonal decorations outside local businesses, conversations happening on restaurant patios, and neighbors greeting one another.

Those moments may seem small, but together they shape the personality of the city.

A neighborhood where people walk feels different from one where everyone drives everywhere.

There is more energy. More interaction. More opportunities for unexpected conversations.

That human element is something I hope Palm Springs never loses.

Buyers Are Looking Beyond the House Itself

I also think homebuyers have become much more thoughtful about lifestyle.

Years ago, a buyer might have focused almost entirely on the home itself. Today, many buyers are evaluating the neighborhood just as carefully.

They want nearby parks, restaurants, local events, and places where they can spend time without planning an entire afternoon around getting in the car.

Remote work has probably accelerated that shift.

When people spend more time at home, they also spend more time in their immediate surroundings. Suddenly the neighborhood becomes an extension of the home.

That changes purchasing decisions in ways I do not think many people anticipated.

Walkability Builds Long-Term Value

From a business perspective, I have come to believe that walkable neighborhoods create value that extends well beyond property prices.

They strengthen local businesses.

They encourage community involvement.

They make tourism feel more authentic because visitors experience the city at street level rather than through a car window.

They also create the kind of everyday lifestyle that encourages people to stay longer, return more often, or even decide to move here permanently.

That combination benefits residents, business owners, and investors alike.

It Is About More Than Convenience

I sometimes think people hear the word “walkability” and reduce it to convenience.

For me, it has become something much bigger.

It is about connection.

It is about creating places where people naturally interact with one another instead of constantly passing each other by.

It is about supporting local businesses without needing complicated marketing campaigns.

It is about making neighborhoods feel lived in instead of simply occupied.

Palm Springs already has many of those qualities, and I think protecting them is just as important as building new homes or attracting new investment.

When I look at where the city is headed, I hope we continue to recognize the value of spaces that encourage people to slow down, walk a little farther, and become part of the community around them.

Sometimes the most valuable asset a neighborhood has is not the architecture or the view. Sometimes it is simply the opportunity to step outside, leave the car behind, and experience the city one block at a time.