Are New Urbanists Elitist?

Do new urbanists need to rethink their attitude toward chain stores and big-box retailers, including Wal-Mart?

1 minute read

May 17, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"New urbanists need to rethink their attitude toward chain stores and big-box retailers, including Wal-Mart, retail consultant and planner Robert Gibbs charged during a sometimes feisty CNU Council in late February in San Diego. Gibbs, the most prominent retail adviser serving developers of new urban communities, argued that new urbanists have become elitist and unrealistic about what kinds of stores to invite into their town centers." [Editor's note: Only part of this article is available online.]

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, May 16, 2004 in New Urban News

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