After 20 years, the Easton Town Center in Northeast Columbus, Ohio draws nearly 30 million visitors a year and sells more than $1 billion in food and merchandise.
An article by Jim Weiker credits Easton Town Center with changing the face of Ohio retail, 20 years after the project first opened in Columbus.
L Brands and development partner Georgetown Company opened the open-air shopping and "lifestyle center" 20 years ago, making the decision to leave some shops open to the elements and position the development away from the highway to create a town center. The project was modeled on projects like CocoWalk in Miami, and the Irvine Spectrum in Southern California.
Weiker provides a lot more history on the project before digging into the successes of Easton in 2019: "Easton proved far more than a local shopping destination. With its blend of entertainment, restaurants and hotels, it has served as a get-away spot for guests far outside Columbus."
Despite all of its success, some of the early anchor tenants, like Planet Movies Planet Hollywood, and a Virgin Megastore, failed. According to the article, the second phase of development raised the bar on an already revolutionary concept and solidified the development's position as a regional retail destination.
The big feature article includes several sections, historical images, a "slider" to compare Easton then and now, and a video, embedded above.
FULL STORY: Easton's success built on 'emotional connection' with patrons
Columbus, Ohio's High-Frequency Transit Future Up for Vote in November
Despite being the nation’s 14th largest city, Columbus, Ohio has no high-capacity transit. That could change this November as city officials put a levy before voters that would provide $6.2 billion by 2050 to fund an ambitious bus rapid transit system.
It’s Unanimous: Columbus Approves Density-Friendly Zoning Changes
Columbus has approved six zoning code amendments, which include height limit increases from three stories to 16 and eliminate parking requirements for large developments in 12,300 parcels along major transportation corridors.
Columbus Zoning Reform Proposal Garners Varied Responses
Proponents of a new zoning designation say it will ease the housing crisis, while other residents worry about density, historic resources, and property taxes.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.
Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.
Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research