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I'm a former "non-conformist" zoning board member and strident historic preservationist, but can't imagine preserving an old crappy Kmart or strip mall. They were never examples of good architecture and were poorly constructed to begin with. This whole country is filled with those abandoned ghosts of the 70s, 80s, 90s,... that were erected prior to any thought of responsible planning, concern with aesthetics or surrounding environment. Yes, they probably fit a need at the time, but were an eyesore when they were built, and are abandoned eyesores with crumbling parking lots now.
If an area is still currently zoned for that type of commercial business, knock the old things down and build something that's an improvement on the past.
The best scenario is that a town has learned from prior mistakes, and now has ordinances regarding architectural and environmental standards that are appropriate for within its boundaries.
I think you said it better than I. It's why I am in favor of utilizing these old eyesore strip malls. Yes, make it more attractive by redoing it. Still doesn't mean I'm in favor of building a lot of huge, new big box stores. To me, it's two different issues. Ultimately, it's a matter of balance. But like you said, those ugly strip mall type places were there before people thought about or cared about responsible planning. Better to reuse and revitalize those than let them sit there looking terrible.
Gotcha, southbel.
But what always must be considered is, if it is built... Will they come? They must have reason to do so.
When you hope to plan non-big box retail group on the outskirts of any place, there must be:
1) A semi-related group of businesses that can attract and retain common customers.
2) A critical mass of businesses investing in that location that can offer unique reason to spend time and money there.
Mt. Pleasant needs these hated "big box" stores for the tax base (it also wouldn't hurt to have a few Boeing suppliers either). You can't pay the bills on homes and apartments or these little mom and pop businesses that gouge the consumer.
There may not be the population base, and I'm ok if that's the company line, but I don't want them willing to place a store here to meet an unreasonable resistance from a few people concerned about NIMBY or insisting that MtP stay the way it was 20 years ago.
If you look at the GIS tool, you'll find both Walmarts in MtP land includes the store and all the parking around it in its parcel. You will note how the parcel is split on the Sams property. The bottom line is the warehouse store is almost equivalent to your current Walmart supercenter.
Kenny is correct though, its poor tax diversification to rely on residential and small revenue based businesses.
Just my opinion but... Believing that big boxes can change things is the ultimate in small town thinking.
The goal is to diversify the tax base. Big box stores are one way to do that. Small town thinking is keeping everything the same which it what a lot of the natives and some transplants want. It's never going to be like it was in 1975.
The goal is to diversify the tax base. Big box stores are one way to do that. Small town thinking is keeping everything the same which it what a lot of the natives and some transplants want. It's never going to be like it was in 1975.
Studies do not back you up. Here is a nice list of several studies on the issue, if you're interested.
It's one thing to say, as some had said on here, they want X, Y, or Z business in the Mt P area because they like the product offered. It's another to claim that big box stores improve local economies. Point of fact, studies have shown they actually hurt local economies for multiple reasons including overall wages, the tax base growth, and the overall increase of funding to the local economy. Big box stores, in essence, take more than they give to the communities where they reside.
While I may not agree, I cannot at least understand the justification by those who appreciate and/or want a product certain big box stores offer. However, your statements are patently false and thus, I feel the need to show them as such.
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