I have a bit of a different view than some of my fellow Scale Down Bloggers when it comes to the Big Box Power Centers. Although I became a part of Scale Down because of my desire to support locally owned independant businesses, I am not opposed to the multinationals in themselves. I am opposed to what I believe is the City Of Windsor and Essex County Prostituting themselves to these Corporations.
Righ now I'm in Florida and was just at a wonderful example of what a big box development could look like. Coconut Point is a mixed use complex that almost recreates a main street.
Why can't Windsor and Essex county demand the same type of site plans? I mean, sure, it would drive up the costs of development but have you ever heard of Walmart, Home Depot or the rest bypassing a city because of development costs? Do you actually think that there wouldn't be a Walmart in Windsor if we raised the price of admission.
We're selling out, and we're selling out very cheap. Why? Mainly because the city and the county refuse to work together as a region and compete against each other in a race to the bottom.
These well planned Lifestyle Centers can actually address the economic development and social fabric problems that Power Centers create although they would still not be able to address the fostering of Windsor's distinct and unique Culture. There would be no cool owner- operators you could meet there. Still, 2 out of 3 ain't bad and is a lot better than the current big goose egg (or should I say Goose crap) our city gets now.
Now don't get me wrong, I still prefer the independant locals, but I think democracy is all about freedom of choice. If someone wants to shop big box or multinational, that's their right. But why are we letting these big box's create unwalkable blight in our community. Why do we allow the parking lagoons to exist. Democracy also means that the citizens of WIndsor have the right to demand certain things from developers as well
I'd like to hear a report from Planning on this, I feel like the Jack Nicolson scene from "a few Good men".
"The Truth, You can't handle the truth"
As an explanation
What is a Lifestyle Center?
Lifestyle Centers are open-air shopping centers generally designed with a pedestrian orientation. They may or may not include any anchor stores. These centers focus on upscale national chains, entertainment and theaters, restaurants, and specialty stores. Lifestyle Centers are often designed as a destination center with more than just retail to encourage browsing and multiple activities in one visit. A Lifestyle Center can generally be defined as a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards consumers. Lifestyle centers emerged as a retailing trend in the late 1990s and are often located in suburban areas. More info on shopping centers here.
The International Council of Shopping Centers indicates that the service area of a Lifestyle Center is typically 8-12 miles. Examples of Lifestyle Centers are: University Village in Seattle, and Redmond Town Center in Redmond.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
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4 comments:
Would a lifestyle plaza be similar to Windsor Crossings or at least part of it?
I agree that we need more of a liveable city mentality here instead o getting in our cars to go to the corner store.
Mark, I think the 'lifestyle boxes' is just more lipstick on a pig. Don't get sucked in. These are still 50 and 60k s.f. pads supported only by their warehouses-on-wheels that still need people to jump in the cars for every stop. If I visit 4 stores at Windsor Crossings, I'm likely to move my car 4 times rather than criss crossing a black top parking lagoon. These lifestyle plazas give the illusion of walkable, but really aren't. The car is needed and can never be far. If I were to offer a fix, it may be to reduce the square footage that these multi-nationals (even the grocery stores)require, Howbout we demand that? If they want 60k, maybe it should be 30k or, even less? Sure its cost effective for them to keep their inventory on the shelves, but, why do we need to walk through somebody elses warehouse? That's where we're prostituting ourselves. Demand a better qualtiy of life.
yes, the huge expanses of parking lots tell the bigger story.
It would be only be similar to the section with the public space, the fountain and the cafe.
Not arguing with sporto about the lipstick on the pig comment.
The main difference is that one has public spaces, one is anti social. That, in my book is a very big difference.
But I still think we are very close in positions. Both require cars, and both add nothing to a city's culture. For example, being able to walk into a business and have a conversation with the owner operator is very enriching. Thats why I mainly frequent downtown, Erie, Walkerville and Ottawa or the other Windsor BIA's.
I just think that banning stores is like banning books.
(Of course I draw a line where criminal activity occurs such as after hour bars on pelissier and massage parlors and I'm darn well comfortable with wanting to ban those)
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