1. Strip Malls Hadass Blank, Sarah Spiegel, Ptalia Greenwald & Amina Omar

2. History First strip mall in 1896 in Baltimore, MD First strip mall in 1896 in Baltimore, MD Designed to accommodate the car-driving family Designed to accommodate the car-driving family Notion of one stop shopping Notion of one stop shopping Became widespread after the 1960’s in suburban America Became widespread after the 1960’s in suburban America

3. Design A chain of connected stores A chain of connected stores In front parking In front parking Sidewalks connecting all store fronts Sidewalks connecting all store fronts Large display windows Large display windows Developed around thoroughfares and highways (access by cars) Developed around thoroughfares and highways (access by cars)

4. Sizes and Styles Smaller sizes: more common, often located at the intersections of major streets and smaller residential areas Smaller sizes: more common, often located at the intersections of major streets and smaller residential areas Found in nearly every city or town in America Found in nearly every city or town in America Service oriented- grocery stores, dry cleaner, video rental, small restaurant Service oriented- grocery stores, dry cleaner, video rental, small restaurant

5. Size and Style 2 Large: box retailers (ie Target or Wal-mart) as anchors Large: box retailers (ie Target or Wal-mart) as anchors Sometimes referred to as power centers- attract and cater residents in entire population area Sometimes referred to as power centers- attract and cater residents in entire population area Example: Plymouth Meeting Example: Plymouth Meeting

6. Plymouth 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

7. Problems with Strip Malls Parking lots are huge and unattractive Parking lots are huge and unattractive Further increases suburban sprawl Further increases suburban sprawl NOT Pedestrian friendly NOT Pedestrian friendly Failing strip malls are misusing convenient spaces Failing strip malls are misusing convenient spaces

8. Solutions Redevelopment of failing strip malls into mixed use ‘town centers’ or apartments Redevelopment of failing strip malls into mixed use ‘town centers’ or apartments

9. Problems with the Solutions Zoning laws can get very complicated – where developers are only allowed to build certain things in a specified area Zoning laws can get very complicated – where developers are only allowed to build certain things in a specified area Money – it will take a lot to change a dead strip mall into a vibrant, busy town center Money – it will take a lot to change a dead strip mall into a vibrant, busy town center People prefer larger stores as a opposed to smaller stores where they need to shop more often People prefer larger stores as a opposed to smaller stores where they need to shop more often