E-Commerce

Three blue Amazon delivery trucks at bays at a distribution center

Key Warehouse Centers Challenge Distribution Center Expansion

Communities near major e-commerce distribution centers are increasingly resisting new construction, citing air pollution and other public health impacts.

August 16, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Worker packs boxes in an Amazon warehouse

State Reports Seeks To Guide Warehouse Development in New Jersey

With demand for sprawling e-commerce warehouses growing, New Jersey’s State Planning Commission has released a series of documents outlining best practices for cities examining warehouse proposals.

July 7, 2022 - CentralJersey.com

Tysons Corner

Rethinking Retail Space in the Wake of COVID-19

As e-commerce boomed and people sought outdoor shopping and dining options, the pandemic accelerated the decline of massive, merchandise-oriented retail spaces and indoor malls.

January 12, 2022 - Bisnow

New York City, New York

Manhattan Traffic Spreading to Other Boroughs

New travel patterns and an increased reliance on delivery services and ride-hailing are creating more congestion in New York's outer boroughs.

January 3, 2022 - The New York Times

Amazon Fulfillment Center

Amazon Plans Further Expansion

On the heels of building its HQ2 facility in Arlington, Amazon continues to expand its hubs in cities spread out across the country.

December 29, 2021 - GeekWire

Department Store

Phoenix Mall Sold for Mixed-Use Redevelopment

The former Paradise Valley Mall will undergo a conversion to a mixed-use community with homes, offices, and stores.

April 7, 2021 - CNBC

Amazon Fulfillment Center

Warehouse Sprawl Prompts Calls for Regional Planning

As e-commerce giants like Amazon build more and more facilities, advocates say a regional approach is needed to prevent sprawl and look beyond local benefits.

March 31, 2021 - NJ Spotlight

Metro Rapid Bus

Causes of the Pre-COVID Decline in Bus Ridership

Even before the effects fo the coronavirus pandemic drastically reduced ridership, transit riders were declining in cities across the country. The reasons for the downward trend were varied.

April 8, 2020 - The New York Times

New York Bike Delivery

Report: Last-Mile Deliveries to Increase 78% by 2030

A new report from the World Economic Forum predicts dire consequences for congestion and carbon emissions if e-commerce delivery services proliferate unchecked.

January 29, 2020 - Supply Chain DIve

Alibaba

Study: E-Commerce Decreases Traffic Congestion in China

Examining congestion data from 94 Chinese cities before and after Alibaba's Singles' Day, this study found evidence for a modest drop in traffic following the Cyber Monday-like event.

November 3, 2019 - IDEAS

UPS LNG Truck

Teamsters Authorize Strike as Negotiations with UPS Heat Up

UPS's unionized workers have voted to authorize a strike around expanded service. If that strike does happen, it could be one of the biggest U.S. has seen in decades.

June 10, 2018 - CNN

Amazon Warehouse

Logistics Industry Footprint Grows in the Inland Empire

Some residents are holding out as warehouse developers scope out their property. Others have already accepted offers well above market value.

November 3, 2017 - KPCC

City Hall

Impacts of AVs and E-Commerce on Municipal Budgets

A new report from Urbanism Next/SCI takes you through a city’s budget—both revenues and expenditures—and describes the areas that will be affected as AVs become commonplace and e-commerce takes on an even larger role in retail

August 4, 2017 - Urbanism Next

Deliveries Truck

Explosion of Deliveries Disrupts Streets

E-commerce and its delivery trucks are a big problem for narrow streets, homes, and retailers that don't have loading docks.

June 15, 2017 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Beer

Industry Analyst Predicts Grocery Store Closures Across the U.S.

Competition from online retailers forced many physical stores to close their doors, that trend could be headed for grocery stores next.

March 18, 2017 - The Atlanta Business Chronicle

Amazon Delivery

Online Shopping Statistics, Overstated and Misreported

Articles that claim online commerce have surpassed sales at brick and mortar stores are wrong, according to an article on City Observatory.

November 8, 2016 - City Observatory

Shanghai China

China's Urbanization Boom May Be Slowing

After a period of modernization and urban growth unrivaled in human history, several forces promise a slump, or at least a slowing. Maybe it's time to improve existing cities, not keep building new ones.

August 2, 2016 - Bloomberg

Amazon Fresh Truck

Online Retail Curbs Urban Traffic

Despite claims that urban truck traffic continues to rise, recent data shows no real increase in urban vehicle miles traveled. Online shopping may be helping keep people off the roads.

September 18, 2015 - City Observatory City Commentary

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