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Cities Found Creative Ways to Recycle Abandoned 'Big Box' Stores
Big-box stores leave huge spaces behind — many carry deed restrictions that prevent other retailers from moving in — and filling the space can be difficult. So cities have become creative and some are turning these hubs of capitalism into centers of civic life.
A Kmart in Hastings, Neb., is a Head Start Early Childhood Center. Kmarts in Buffalo and Charlotte and a Wal-Mart in Laramie, Wyo., are charter schools. After Hurricane Katrina's devastation in Louisiana, the St. Bernard Health Center opened in government trailers in the parking lot of a closed Wal-Mart.
Among the most unusual uses: An old Kmart in Austin, Minn., is the site of Hormel Foods offices and a museum dedicated to Hormel's famed meat product, Spam; the Peddlers Mall in Nicholasville, Ky., is a flea market and antiques mall where a Wal-Mart once was. Big-box stores leave huge spaces behind — many carry deed restrictions that prevent other retailers from moving in — and filling the s... more -
Selling the Suburbs
A new marketing campaign aims to draw residents back to the "inner-ring" suburbs of Philadelphia. The campaign aims to inform the home buying public about the many benefits of returning to the older suburbs, or Classic Towns as the campaign has branded the cities, that have been abandoned in the past few decades in favor of larger homes farther from the city. According to the campaign, the benefits of inner-ring living include walkable neighborhoods, shorter commutes to the city, as well as more affordable housing then that which is available within city limits.
What do you think? Are inner-ring suburbs a good alternative to the expensive city and the inconvenient, ecologically unfriendly outer-ring suburbs? A new marketing campaign aims to draw residents back to the "inner-ring" suburbs of Philadelphia. The campaign aims to infor... more -
A Stab at Suburbia
Justin Kirk of "Weeds" shares his opinion on the suburbs and who inhabit them. "Weeds" is on Showtime on Monday nights. Justin Kirk of "Weeds" shares his opinion on the suburbs and who inhabit them. "Weeds" is on Showtime on Monday n... more
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Faux Orange County, China
From the report:
China’s rising elite is importing a new American lifestyle, complete with fake lakes, stucco ranch houses, and Hummers in the driveway. But as these gated communities grow, is China doomed to repeat all of America’s mistakes? From the report: ... more -
Suburbs the next slums?
With rising energy prices and increasing emphasis on walkable urbanism, the suburbs are losing popularity. In fact, some speculate that the suburbs will be the future slums, a transformation that is already beginning with rising crime in some of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the subprime mess. With rising energy prices and increasing emphasis on walkable urbanism, the suburbs are losing popularity. In fact, some speculate th... more
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Sarkozy to unveil France suburb revival plans
President Sarkozy is set to unveil his plans to regenerate France's poorest and mostly immigrant suburbs. These areas have often been the epicenter of rioting and violent clashes with police. The plans are mostly aimed at youths and are expected to offer better educational opportunities and more jobs, and there will be a focus on making sure that the people in these marginalized areas are included in wider French society. President Sarkozy is set to unveil his plans to regenerate France's poorest and mostly immigrant suburbs. These areas have often ... more
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Urban Sprawl and YOU!
How does your community rate on the "sprawl meter"?
According to Smart Growth America, the advocacy group that ranked 83 major metropolitan areas, sprawl is unplanned urban growth that happens outside the existing infrastructure. Sprawl can cause many problems for residents. In the most sprawling metropolitan areas, a family of four can be expected to drive 40 more miles per day than a family in a low-sprawl area. In sprawling places, people drive more, breathe more polluted air, face a greater risk of car fatalities, have to own more cars, and walk and use transit less.
More than 66 percent of its population lives at least 10 miles from a central business district.
⢠It's not very pedestrian-friendly. More than 70 percent of its blocks are larger than traditional urban size.
⢠Less than 1 percent of its population lives where there's enough population density to be effectively served by mass transit.
Does this sound like your town? If it does, your not alone.
Areas with the most sprawl
1. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
2. Greensboro-Winston-Salem- High Point, N.C.
3. Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Cities with the least sprawl
1. New York
2. Jersey City, N.J.
3. Providence How does your community rate on the "sprawl meter"? ... more -
The rise and fall of the shopping mall
The shopping mall was invented in order to evoke a European city feel, that downtown busy feel. Soon however it became viewed as a staple of American surburbia. Are Americans still going to the mall? The shopping mall was invented in order to evoke a European city feel, that downtown busy feel. Soon however it became viewed as a sta... more
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Missouri Family Shunned Over Hoax, Suicide
Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage girl and allegations she had been tormented by a neighbor over the Internet have brought a reaction that is old, almost tribal, in its nature.
Residents of the middle-class subdivision have turned against the neighbor, Lori Drew, and her family, demanding the Drews move out. In interviews, they have warned darkly that someone might be tempted to "take matters into their own hands."
This sound like something that gets turned into a mad for TV movie. Waterford Crystal Drive is one of those suburban streets that seem so new as to have no history at all. But the suicide of a teenage g... more -
Urbanism the New American Dream?
Study indicates that American preference is shifting away from the suburbs to walkable urban environments.
From the release:
"The 'Leave It To Beaver' drivable suburban vision of the American Dream is being supplemented by the 'Seinfeld' vision of walkable urbanism," stated Leinberger. "As demographic trends and consumer preferences take hold, the nearby suburbs of many major cities are changing to meet the pent up demand for this new way of life. The outer suburbs are also beginning to follow suit, through the development of so-called 'lifestyle centers.' The American Dream, as laid out on the ground, is changing." Study indicates that American preference is shifting away from the suburbs to walkable urban environments. From the release: ... more -
Where the wealthiest suburbs in America are
Biz Journal's latest study finds where the big money lives.
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Suburbs
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Suburbs
