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I wouldn't call a concrete block of stores hidden behind a parking lot "mixed use".
That does not describe most of the strip malls I'm familiar with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddyline
Yeah, the concept of mixed use is misunderstood often.
The typical strip mall is NOT mixed use.
What is mixed use then? The strip mall near me has a Walgreen's, a liquor store, a shoe repair shop, a dental office, a hairdresser, a sports bar and a pizza parlor, off the top of my head. At times it's also had an exercise studio (now the sports bar). It used to have a grocery store and will again soon. Said grocery store is going to have a meeting room for public meetings. Since someone in a thread yesterday referred to a Safeway as a community center, I think the place I'm describing is "mixed use". There are also going to be some condos built on part of the old grocery store property.
That does not describe most of the strip malls I'm familiar with.
What is mixed use then? The strip mall near me has a Walgreen's, a liquor store, a shoe repair shop, a dental office, a hairdresser, a sports bar and a pizza parlor, off the top of my head. At times it's also had an exercise studio (now the sports bar). It used to have a grocery store and will again soon. Said grocery store is going to have a meeting room for public meetings. Since someone in a thread yesterday referred to a Safeway as a community center, I think the place I'm describing is "mixed use". There are also going to be some condos built on part of the old grocery store property.
That isn't mixed use, that is just a lot of commercial use. Mixed use means when a building contains more than one use, the strip mall you are describing is just single use retail, which there is nothing wrong with that, it just isn't mixed use.
That does not describe most of the strip malls I'm familiar with.
What is mixed use then? The strip mall near me has a Walgreen's, a liquor store, a shoe repair shop, a dental office, a hairdresser, a sports bar and a pizza parlor, off the top of my head. At times it's also had an exercise studio (now the sports bar). It used to have a grocery store and will again soon. Said grocery store is going to have a meeting room for public meetings. Since someone in a thread yesterday referred to a Safeway as a community center, I think the place I'm describing is "mixed use". There are also going to be some condos built on part of the old grocery store property.
Add in offices and/or residences and it becomes mixed use. Some strip malls do have offices, but they aren't super common.
That isn't mixed use, that is just a lot of commercial use. Mixed use means when a building contains more than one use, the strip mall you are describing is just single use retail, which there is nothing wrong with that, it just isn't mixed use.
Well, that's the first I've heard such a definition of mixed use. Is it like "suburb", that it can mean whatever a poster wants it to mean, so that "mixed use" is good, but the Village Square Shopping Center (the official name of my strip mall) is bad?
Well, that's the first I've heard such a definition of mixed use. Is it like "suburb", that it can mean whatever a poster wants it to mean, so that "mixed use" is good, but the Village Square Shopping Center (the official name of my strip mall) is bad?
Add in offices and/or residences and it becomes mixed use. Some strip malls do have offices, but they aren't super common.
People don't work in a restaurant, a beauty shop, a dental office, a drug store? For all I know, someone is renting a little building there to do "office work".
Well, that's the first I've heard such a definition of mixed use. Is it like "suburb", that it can mean whatever a poster wants it to mean, so that "mixed use" is good, but the Village Square Shopping Center (the official name of my strip mall) is bad?
That has always been the definition of mixed use. Suburb as well has a specific definition.
I don't know your strip mall by you, so I cannot tell you if it is good or bad.
People don't work in a restaurant, a beauty shop, a dental office, a drug store? For all I know, someone is renting a little building there to do "office work".
Well when the strip mall builds some residential on top of it, then it can be called mixed use.
What is mixed use then? The strip mall near me has a Walgreen's, a liquor store, a shoe repair shop, a dental office, a hairdresser, a sports bar and a pizza parlor, off the top of my head. At times it's also had an exercise studio (now the sports bar). It used to have a grocery store and will again soon. Said grocery store is going to have a meeting room for public meetings. Since someone in a thread yesterday referred to a Safeway as a community center, I think the place I'm describing is "mixed use". There are also going to be some condos built on part of the old grocery store property.
It means the integration of different uses (residential, commerical, industrial) rather than segregation. The strip mall you're referring to is probably not mixed-use if it is segregated from residential uses. The zoning code often requires these uses to be separate.
Sacramento could use some improvement. Main entrance has sidewalks, but Sear's drive (down the street) you either hop the rose bushes or walk all the way down. I was staying at a hotel there for something and had to run across to buy a screw driver. I hopped the rose bushes, not a big deal but annoying.
My Sears example isn't working out so well. I was trying to describe the arrangement of Sears from inside of the mall, imagining that the mall's corridor was "Main Street". (Similar to a lifestyle center.)
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I was trying to describe the arrangement of Sears from inside of the mall, imagining that the mall's corridor was "Main Street". (Similar to a lifestyle center.)