Kmart, The Big Box, And The Role Of Planning In American Cities

Kmart's recent announcement will make communities cope with more vacant storefronts, and should prompt planners to rethink big box retail.

1 minute read

March 18, 2002, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Kmart announced it would close almost 300 under-performing stores and slash 20,000 jobs. By some accounts, this move alone could almost double the inventory of large, empty stores in America's cities. Most are in the nation's older strip malls and suburbs. Dr. Samuel Staley, director of the Urban Futures Program for Reason Public Policy Institute, argues that how local communities handle this crisis will be an important test of how well planners and city officials are able to manage the demands of the 21st century economy.

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Kmart, the Big Box, and the Role of Planning in American Cities

Sunday, March 17, 2002 in Planetizen

Community / Economic Development United States

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