Strip MallsStrip Malls

Hadass Blank, Sarah Spiegel, Hadass Blank, Sarah Spiegel,

Ptalia Greenwald & Amina OmarPtalia Greenwald & Amina Omar

HistoryHistory

First strip mall in 1896 in Baltimore, MDFirst strip mall in 1896 in Baltimore, MDDesigned to accommodate the car-driving Designed to accommodate the car-driving

familyfamilyNotion of one stop shoppingNotion of one stop shoppingBecame widespread after the 1960’s in Became widespread after the 1960’s in

suburban Americasuburban America

DesignDesign

A chain of connected storesA chain of connected stores In front parkingIn front parkingSidewalks connecting all store frontsSidewalks connecting all store frontsLarge display windowsLarge display windowsDeveloped around thoroughfares and Developed around thoroughfares and

highways (access by cars)highways (access by cars)

Sizes and StylesSizes and Styles

Smaller sizes: more common, often Smaller sizes: more common, often located at the intersections of major located at the intersections of major streets and smaller residential areasstreets and smaller residential areas

Found in nearly every city or town in Found in nearly every city or town in AmericaAmerica

Service oriented- grocery stores, dry Service oriented- grocery stores, dry cleaner, video rental, small restaurantcleaner, video rental, small restaurant

Size and Style 2Size and Style 2

Large: box retailers (ie Target or Wal-mart) Large: box retailers (ie Target or Wal-mart) as anchorsas anchors

Sometimes referred to as Sometimes referred to as power centers-power centers- attract and cater residents in entire attract and cater residents in entire population areapopulation area

Example: Plymouth MeetingExample: Plymouth Meeting

Plymouth MeetingPlymouth Meeting

Plymouth Meeting was developed within the last few years

Stores serve everyday needs

Such as Target, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Giant Food, and Lowes Hardware

The stores are surrounded by outside parking

Problems with Strip MallsProblems with Strip Malls

Parking lots are huge and unattractiveParking lots are huge and unattractive

Further increases suburban sprawlFurther increases suburban sprawl

NOT Pedestrian friendlyNOT Pedestrian friendly

Failing strip malls are misusing convenient Failing strip malls are misusing convenient spaces spaces

Solutions Solutions

Redevelopment Redevelopment of failing strip of failing strip malls into mixed malls into mixed use ‘town use ‘town centers’ or centers’ or apartmentsapartments

Problems with the SolutionsProblems with the Solutions

Zoning laws can get very complicated – Zoning laws can get very complicated – where developers are only allowed to build where developers are only allowed to build certain things in a specified area certain things in a specified area

Money – it will take a lot to change a dead Money – it will take a lot to change a dead strip mall into a vibrant, busy town centerstrip mall into a vibrant, busy town center

People prefer larger stores as a opposed to People prefer larger stores as a opposed to smaller stores where they need to shop more smaller stores where they need to shop more often often