Some Streets of San Francisco: Preference Effects of Trees, Cars, Wires, and Buildings

Many researchers have reported on the preference effects of various components of streetscapes. However, there appears to be relatively little data on the relative importances of those design components on preference. In this paper the relative effects of trees, cars, wires, and building facades on preferences for residential blocks are discussed. Clean estimates of these effects were obtained by combining contemporary digital technology with a formal experimental design. It was found that trees had a moderate positive effect on preferences for streetscapes, wires had a small negative effect, and cars had a trivial effect. It was also found that the effect of building facade ranged from trivial to moderate.