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What kinds of infrastructure are needed to support our way of life in the coming decades?
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Walking mall without a huge parking lot in front of it
Jul 03, 2011 Tonya H
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Would there be a way to have an outdoor mall, similar to Midtown Village that would not have streets and parking jammed up to the store doors? We don't HAVE to be able to park at the front door of an area in order to patronize it. AT Midtown Village there is a very nice courtyard area but it is surrounded by a street and parking places. It would be easy and more pleasant to park in a parking location (maybe bhind the shopping area) and walk from store to store shopping and maybe stop to eat an ice cream or drink coffee while sitting on a park bench in the courtyard area. We need shade trees (evergreen ones like oaks and madnolias need little care and provide shade year round).
Exercise will help all of us and the mall could be handicapped-accessible for those in scooters, wheelchairs, etc.

4 Comments
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    by mmmark The Gateway in Salt Lake City is a fantastic example of how to do an outdoor walking mall the right way. http://www.shopthegateway.com/

    Jul 07, 2011 at 10:25 AM  
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    by nonameface Most folks like to window shop, which is why indoor malls were so popular for so long. Then the developers got the idea to return to strip malls and give them fancy names (like "The Summit") so people would be forced to pick a store to drive to and park in front of. The retailers love it. of course, but do the customers? I don't know about others, but this customer does not. In an age of ever increasing obesity we should not be encouraging so-called "lifestyle centers" that would have people to drive from one store to another fifty feet away.

    Jul 05, 2011 at 2:22 PM  
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    by Bama P This almost totally duplicates another thread started today against having parking in front of stores. Most folks do not like parking in back parking lots where most vehicle break-ins occur. And especially at night, many people don't care to be walking to the back lot.

    Jul 03, 2011 at 8:42 PM  
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    by Andrew_M Maybe Stan Pate will incorporate this idea into his redevelopment of McFarland Mall!

    Jul 03, 2011 at 6:15 PM  

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