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
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.