Source Article:
Khouri, Andrew. “Dying Shopping Malls Can Make Room for New Condos and Apartments, Helping Ease the Housing Crisis.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sept. 2017, www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail-housing-20170929-story.html.
Contextualizing Paragraphs:
CP1 Shopping malls are seeing a significant decrease in popularity across America. What was once appealing to the post-war generation for its easy access, consumer convenience has taken on new forms. Conglomerate online retailers such as Amazon has become popular among consumers and made it difficult for retail stores to compete. “The rise of e-commerce and discount chains means that as many as 25% of U.S. malls will close by 2022”, Phil Wahba states in his article
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He remarks on the proposals to repurpose the properties and convert the spaces to be more thoughtful to urgent social issues such as the housing crisis that plagues cities across the country. He is particularly adamant about redevelopment to construct properties that are mixed-use, or have both commercial and residential spaces on the same property. Additionally, he discusses sanctions for the redeveloped housing being placed below market value to provide housing for lower-income residents and while simultaneously causing less of a spike in adjacent residential property prices. Although Khouri does address the benefits to redeveloped spaces, he fails to address its realistic downfalls, which I would encourage in order to accurately summarize the topic of redevelopment as a …show more content…
Material exploitation by way of demolishing one shopping center to build another in its place with a few additional components has a negative impact on the environment. I encourage those who are on board with a more intelligent approach to land use to think more in-depth on the utilization of materials. If the previous structure was a shopping mall, the already compartmentalized interior of the building would make for an easy transition, for renovation purposes, into residential housing. Instead, sleeker models of the same purpose are put into place. This is not to discourage the creation of new design, but instead thinking about incorporating old components into new ideas to create a truly unique structure. Additions and subtractions would be made but an overall thoughtfulness on the carbon footprint renovations would be kept at the forefront of those redesigning the
... motivation for wealthy individuals to return to the inner-city core but it also provides impetus for commercial and retail mixed-use to follow, increasing local revenue for cities (Duany, 2001). Proponents of gentrification profess that this increase in municipal revenue from sales and property taxes allows for the funding of city improvements, in the form of job opportunities, improved schools and parks, retail markets and increased sense of security and safety ((Davidson (2009), Ellen & O’Reagan (2007), Formoso et. al (2010)). Due to the increase in housing and private rental prices and the general decrease of the affordable housing stock in gentrifying areas, financially-precarious communities such as the elderly, female-headed households, and blue-collar workers can no longer afford to live in newly developed spaces ((Schill & Nathan (1983), Atkinson, (2000)).
Because of the amount of overdeveloped areas that are now vacant, the desire to renovate old vacant properties and land plots has all but disappeared. What if there was a beneficial solution to unused land plots in need of rehab and redesign? What if, instead of paving over every leftover inch of grass and dirt in urban areas to make room for more parking for our daily commuting polluters, we instead reinvent that land for a purpose that is both beneficial to our
A large part of the change within a community is restaurants and grocery stores. With the influx of wealth coming into gentrified communities, the dining options within the area must match with the new demographic. Affordable grocery stores and restaurants are being bought out and displaced with new and expensive eating options. While this may be seen as a positive for people looking to buy or rent apartment in these areas, it is certainly a negative for someone who relies on these stores on a daily basis. Displacement isn’t confined to a physical location; culture can be displaced as well. The replacement of stores that citizens rely on for convenience is a part of gentrification as well. A notable example of gentrification outside of housing is Whole Foods. Whole Foods caters to the everyday lifestyle of the new demographic while upholding ludicrous prices for anyone on a budget. An article in The Real Deal New York States it best, “Kale could be a rent killer for long-term residents of Central Harlem.” This location in Central Harlem not only has ridiculous prices within the store, but the value of the apartments surrounding it have increased as well. This causes even more of a n increase in rent prices and pushes even more long-term citizens out of housing. Housing within a one-mile radius of the new Whole Foods in Harlem have a difference of four point seven percent in rent
Merchant elaborates on the extent of managing exotic gardens inside buildings particularly the mall to recreate a heavenly atmosphere. She considers the work that goes into maintaining these gardens to keep them pristine, from the expensive water works and pesticides utilized to keep the unclean and destructive nuisances from diminishing the aim for perfection in a desirable atmosphere (p.5). These gardens produce the atmosphere to make people happy and content. The greenery provides the feeling of being outdoors while truly being completely inside. She indicates mall landscaping is inspired by surrounding environments that are
This will cause lower income residents to move out of their homes. It is also stated that the action of restoring damaged property would be a positive because it attracts those who can afford the newly renovated homes. This also includes the physical rehabilitation of certain neighborhoods that are in poor conditions. Once these neighborhoods are renovated this will invite those who choose to invest in this area and new businesses will open. However, the negative would be that lower income residents will still be forced to move out because rent prices would increase due to the new demand.(Atikinson, 2004, p.
Gentrification does not follow traditional urban growth theory, which predicts ?the decline of inner city areas as monied classes move to the metropolitan fringe.? The traditional economic model of real estate says that wealthy people can choose their housing from the total city market (Schwirian 96). Once these people decide to live in the suburbs, the lower social classes move into the old homes of the upper class, essentially handing housing down the socioeconomic ladder. Gentrification is actually a reversal of this process. For a variety of reasons, many inner city areas are becoming more attractive to the wealthy, and they are selecting their housing in those areas (Schwirian 96). The problem is that now when the wealthy take over poor homes and renovate them, the poor cannot afford the housing that the wealthy have abandoned. Many researchers have argued whether gentrification has truly created problems in cities. I will analyze the arguments for and against gentrification by exploring the subject from both sides.
This sustainable development was built by a team of excellent contractors, and design professionals. Lead by Colorado's own Haselden Construction, teamed with Stantec and RNL Design, the team won a competition for a $64 million sustainable development. Under a design build approach, the team planned an innovative approach using integrated design and extensive planning, reducing risks and lowering construction-related costs. The final team was formed by:
In conclusion, the designers and builders of the tower have an undesirable job: creating a building that is functional, modern, sustainable and unique. At the same time it is honoring the memory of the people that died in and around the buildings that stood there before. While the green sustainable features have been criticized for being too expensive, they will do more than save just water, electricity and emissions. They and the grace of the building will inspire a generation of green and safe skyscrapers for the twenty-first century. This building has become one of the safest, environmentally friendly and expensive ever built, but as critics slate the building for various reasons, one cannot take away the determination through political, social and economic status that designers and workers have created such a beautiful building with great meaning.
Goss argues that developers and designers of the built environment, specifically shopping centers and malls, use the power of place and understanding the structural layout of the space to boost consumption of the retail profits. Shopping centers are separated from the downtown area of shopping, either by distance and/or design. These establishments emerge for many to be the new heart and location for public and social life. In his article The "Magic of the Mall": An Analysis of Form, Function, and Meaning in the Contemporary Retail Built Environment, Goss also argues that the regulation of the spaces within the mall creates an atmosphere of "community" rather than one that is "public". This article’s main argument is that developers manufacture an illusion of doing more than just shopping when designing malls and shopping centers.
One of the greatest opportunities for Amazon is an Online Payment System. The online system allows the company to reduce transaction fees and increase ease of use for their customers. Internet sales are increasing at a fast pace. This is a product of increased fuel prices, which make driving to a store less likely, and foreign purchases. This development allows foreign purchases to buy clothing as it becomes more popular abroad. Amazon’s biggest competitors can include retail stores that online stores such as Target, Best Buy, and Walmart among others, these can be considered the most dangerous for them since they have strong market share and can be a direct competitor since they attack the same market. Amazon wish to compete in prices, offering
As time goes on, many old neighborhoods, buildings, and public space become too difficult to maintain. The difficulty to maintain these places leads to redevelopment in order to make the space much more valuable. But with redevelopment, the surrounding and existing infrastructure is put at risk because of how it compares to this new urban renewal. The existing area becomes the new old neighborhood and the buildings are considered old now because of the impact from the new redevelopment. With redevelopment, it brings up many questions and problems such as how is the new redevelopment going to affect the other parts of the town, what will the profit/loss be for the town and much more.
In developing this contemporary and iconic building, the design focuses on practical attributes and optimises energy efficiency. The design strategy encapsulates four key aspects:
Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objects of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimal waste, and create healthy, productive environments (“Sustainable Design”). Focusing primarily on the sustainable design principles, there are five, including: low-impact materials, energy efficiency, quality and durability, design for reuse and recycling, and renewability. As sustainability appears to become the necessary trend in architecture, the question concerning the cost versus outcome of “going green” really an investment or a waste of time and money comes to mind. With our research provided below, we believe the expenses may truly be with the investment in the end.
"A Renewed Commitment to Buildings and Their Social Benefits." U.S. Green Building Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. .
Green buildings are not only designed for present use, but consideration is also been given to future uses as well. An adaptable structure can be "recycled" many times over the course of its useful life. If specific technical issues prevent use of the building for a new function, then the materials used in its construction are designed to facilitate ease of recycling and reprocessing of materials.