Kevin A. Roberts
The American Planning Association has named the Central West End on its annual list of the 10 best neighborhoods in the country.
The American Planning Association's Great Neighborhoods list is part of its annual Great Places in America project, which celebrates areas that "represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow."
The association cited a multitude of factors for choosing the Central West End, including its pedestrian-friendly layout with a variety of sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and historic streetscapes; the mixed-use district along Euclid; proximity to Forest Park; and a dense clustering of statues and other public art.
The report also mentioned yearly events such as the Halloween party, Greek festival, and holiday window walk, along with planning and preservation efforts over the past several decades and the neighborhood's rich history.
Other neighborhoods on the list included La Alma/Lincoln Park in Denver, Colorado; the Victorian district in Savannah, Georgia; and Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C.
