Mixed Use Development Vs. Wal-Marts and Malls

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Many times I have mentioned how it has been shown that smaller businesses actually will produce more sales tax revenue per square foot than a big box store such as Wal-Mart.

Here is a posting from Citiwire.net comparing property tax revenue between a major mall and downtown mixed use development.

Mixed-Use Downtown Development Puts Standard Malls’ Tax Yield to Shame

Also you must remember that stores like Wal-Marts also are well known for fighting to get their property tax bills cut down to almost nothing. So not only does the sales tax revenue not cover their infrastructure and other associated costs, but they also don't generate enough property tax revenue to justify the tax incentives and other subsidies they receive.

Some ideas to reuse developments

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Here is a video that I found on the L.A. Creek Freak Website.

While the gas prices mentioned in this video may currently lower than they were back then, but the video does have some great information on how to revitalize our suburban communities into more walkable transit friendly areas.

Part of the video also mentions on how shopping centers in several areas including malls have been reused and redesign to make them more people friendly.

Think about the Dolan Legacy shopping center on the northeast corner of 700 East and 9400 South. While the center only has passable transit service, this area could be redesigned into a more welcoming mixed use development with just some creative thinking.

Another great point made in the video that I have mentioned in the past is the importance of having a mixture of housing price ranges in a development.

One of the problems with existing developments including affordable housing is that it segregates people into different areas which of course leads to the "those kind of people attitudes".

The final part of the video also talks about re-greening areas. Here in Salt Lake there has been talk about restoring City Creek through the downtown area (not counting the fake creek at the City Creek shopping Center).