The Washington Post writes on the impact that lifestyle centers are having on the behaviors of retailers, developers and consumers.
"After more than 50 years of building big, boxy, enclosed malls in suburbs across the country, developers cannot fit any more into most communities. So they are turning back the clock (and filling in the spaces) with open-air shopping centers designed to look and feel like small-town downtowns." The Post reports that "U.S. developers will open more than 30 of them through 2004, compared with only 13 enclosed malls, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers." The Post also reports that, on average, consumers spend more money at open air malls but in less time, making them attractive to consumers and retailers alike. "The open-air shopping centers possess that rare quality in retail -- 'walkability.' A regional mall often requires a 10-minute walk from one department store to the next. Open-air centers generally contain less than half the 1 million square feet of a regional mall."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Retailers Embrace the Great Outdoors

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
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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
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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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