Lofts and ground floor retail envelop a new Lowe's store in Charlotte, forming a buffer between the large store and the surrounding Dilworth neighborhood.
"Lowe's opened its 145,000-square-foot warehouse store Saturday, drawing attention to the 11-acre site and the potential Next Big Thing in mixed-use development.
'It's not just a big gray box,' said UNC Charlotte's David Walters, an architect, urban planner and Dilworth resident. 'It sets a precedent that developers and town planners can use, and it helps raise expectations in other communities.'
As the market becomes saturated, home improvement chains are paying closer attention to the high concentrations of potential shoppers in urban markets. That strategy typically requires more creativity and greater expense in designing stores on smaller sites near heavily populated areas.
On South Boulevard, Walters spoke in favor of the Lowe's rezoning, a contentious issue that divided neighbors and led to numerous meetings with the planning staff and Lowe's design team."
Thanks to Sam Newberg
FULL STORY: South End project is 'not just a big gray box'

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions