[Vision2020] Breaking Big Boxes: Learning from the Horse Whisperers

[Nils Peterson]

Another interesting read, unearthed by Andrew Ackerman down at the City Dev
office.

There is a lot to read here, including an analysis of the limitations of
Moscow's recently adopted big box design standards.


Vermont Journal of Environmental Law
Volume 6 2004-2005
    
Symposium 2005: Breaking Big Boxes: Learning from the Horse Whisperers

By Dwight H. Merriam *

http://www.vjel.org/articles/articles/Merriam11FIN.htm

Way down the article are these quotes...

"Planning and regulation are most effective, and absolutely needed, where
they address market failure. In the case of big box retail, the market often
fails in locational decisions in part because of tax structures and
infrastructure designed to meet other needs but equally supportive of this
format. ...

"To the extent that planning and regulation is more effective when market
forces are channeled rather than blocked, it may be that incentive programs
could "nudge" big box retail to better locations...

"Mixed-use commercial developments with big box retail as one or more of the
anchors and a substantial residential component seems to have much promise
for reducing sprawl, while driving the economic redevelopment of weakened
and failed retail centers. There is much experimentation to be done here if
we are to understand how redevelopment can be effective without compromising
good planning and regulation."