Urban Blight
One reason given for the recent decline in urban cores is crime, but as Josh informs us, the issue is more complex than that. Major retail chains are giving up locations in city centers around the country not only because of rampant shoplifting, but as a hangover effect of Covid, high wage rates, exorbitant rents, retail space oversupply, and national population shifts:
Several forces are pushing chains out of some city centers: a glut of stores, people working from home, online shopping, exorbitant rents, crime and public safety concerns, and difficulty hiring workers.
To reinvent downtown retail, drastic changes may be required.
That means denser neighborhoods with a broader mix of affordable housing, experiential retail, restaurants, entertainment, parks and other amenities, which won't happen overnight.
The proposed solutions will sound familiar to anyone who has seen small-town cores diminishing since their heyday in the mid 20th Century. Population loss has been a main factor, but so has the advent of strip malls with abundant, free, and simple parking. Most town centers aren’t that convenient for Americans in the habit of driving everywhere and parking on a large paved lot near the store. The local non-chain retail pickings are unfamiliar for most modern shoppers. Local retailers lack the advertising publicity of national chains and online retailers.
The languishing downtown may have arrived at our major cities—at least for now in the big cities that are losing people. While the perception of crime in such areas hurts, so does the oversupply of retail space, shortage of workers, and online competition. Or maybe the economic growth model of retail sales is simply evolving to something different once again. We’ll have to wait and see what comes next.
Moved into the Chicago burbs in 2009. Local mall thriving. By 2019, mall walkers were more numerous than shoppers (or so then mall-walker and still wife said). Now parking lots being converted into apartments (almost ready for occupancy), and construction has begun on a commons. Optimistic that new "community" will form, but high risk.
Morning All ( just made it...lol)
Just checking in, I am better, if not prefect...it seems what I have is viral bronchitis, not new to me, I am prone to it, but it has been at least 5 years since I had a case of it....antibiotic's don't help, so lots of sleep and Cough Syrup and over the counter cold medicine for the runny nose, is all I can do. It always lingers and takes a while to go away, why, I hate getting colds, because they turn into this.
I am going back to work tomorrow, but, probably just to do some stuff the boss has no idea how , and we have been promised the money will be in the bank tomorrow, so, I will probably leave early and come home to pay all my bills. I have managed to already get one late fee waived and I will work on the others, and if not, I will be reimbursed from the boss.
Today is No Dirty Dishes Day, Museum Day & Visit your relatives day.
The downtown of my city, is slower, but, not too bad, but the namesake of the county's downtown is not doing well, and hasn't for years. Open Air "commons" are popular, one in my county and one in Cuyahoga county about 20 minutes away. This is where Trader Joes, high end groceries, upscale restaurants etc are now. Even our strip malls are dying, and the major Mall here is on the downslide too. It is a shame, as I have fond memories of the Mall as a pre teen and teenager as a place to hang out and shop with friends.
I have been reading most major news, but, trying to cut back some just for a break.
Hope everyone has an awesome Thursday.