A recent report says local specialty shops will not be successful as transit oriented development adjacent to a planned light rail stop in Colorado, arguing that big box stores like Wal-Mart are the more viable option.
"Local lawmakers want to transform the area, which is planned as a future light-rail stop, into a high-density, multi-use cluster of shops, homes and offices, but the developers that own the land have said that plan might not be financially viable without a helping hand from the city."
"A study by Jeff Green Partners concluded that the location could support 60,000 square feet of specialty big-box stores including toy, baby and office supply stores, 30,000 square feet of upscale fast food restaurants, 10,000 square feet of service stores such as dry cleaners and nail salons and the Wal-Mart Supercenter."
"The study also reported that the development of better specialty and one-of-a kind destination stores would not work at the location, citing a glut of shopping opportunities in Aurora such as Southlands and the Town Center at Aurora, formerly known as the Aurora Mall."
FULL STORY: Is Wal-Mart really the top draw for this land?

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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