Cities and counties all over the South are restricting further development of dollar stores.
Adina Solomon reports from DeKalb County, Georgia, where the county has implemented, and recently extended, a moratorium on new dollar stores (e.g., Dollar Tree, Dollar General) in unincorporated parts of the county.
"DeKalb’s moratorium, which will remain in effect until the end of July at least, came about because of concern from elected officials over dollar stores not providing enough fresh food in neighborhoods with limited grocery store options," writes Solomon. "The county of more than 756,000 has about 70 dollar stores."
According to Solomon, other local governments have passed similar restrictions on dollar stores, including the city of Stonecrest in Dekalb. Atlanta has also "restricted dollar stores from locating within a mile of each other in most neighborhoods," and "Cities across the country — including Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Fort Worth, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama — have also passed restrictions on dollar stores."
According to Solomon, researchers have not yet provided definitive answers on the effect of dollar stores on localities. One study, published by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance at the end of 2018, found that dollar stores are forcing consolidation in the grocery store industry. The DeKalb County moratorium will provide researchers from Georgia State University to study the connection of dollar stores to crime, property values, and the local economy in the county.
FULL STORY: Questions Persist as Another Municipality Regulates Dollar Stores
Even in ‘Food Deserts,’ Independent Grocers Struggle to Survive
Government support has helped open stores in underserved communities, but cost and scale make it difficult for small businesses to survive long-term.
Dollar Stores and Grocery Stores
Opponents of dollar stores argue that dollar stores are the mortal enemy of grocery stores. Is this really true?
In Tulsa, Pushing Back on the Dollar Store Incursion
Restrictions in North Tulsa are part of a backlash against the dollar stores flooding communities that are food deserts in need of real grocery stores.
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.
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.
.jpg){kind=link}
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie