With the rise in vacated mega stores across the nation, resourceful owners and communities will re-imagine better uses for these behemoth structures. This big box re-use will provide opportunities to generate greater community sustainability on many levels.
Economic Sustainability:
- Activates Abandoned / Under Utilized Real Estate.
- Provides Small Business Opportunities.
- Encourages Local “Mom & Pop” Retail Activity.
- Increases Local Tax Base (sales taxes, property taxes, business taxes ).
- Provides Work at Home Opportunities.
- Residents Form Retail Customer Base.
- Generates Local Construction Jobs.
Environmental Sustainability:
- Utilizes Existing Infrastructure.
- Recycles Existing Building Shell
- Utilizes Storm Water Management
- Increases Energy Efficiency
- Increases Water Efficiency
- Utilizes Recycled / Renewable Materials
- Renewable Energy Generation – solar, wind, co-generation
Vegetated Roofs Reduces Urban Heat Islands
- Edible Landscape / Urban Food Production
- Reduces Traffic with Zero Commute Opportunities
- Increased Density Forms Public Transit Opportunities
- Reduces Surface Parking & Increases Landscape
Awesome work, Micah! I could see at least 3 of these conversions in my community right now! I would certainly consider living there, and would certainly shop there…
OK Micah….we have the money to invest…Do you really think you could make this work? In your plan it looks like not much of the box store remains. So where is the cost savings? I love the image, but are you really saving money here by using the shell of the box store or would it be cheaper to just buy the land and knock down the store. My questions are serious because I really like your design and I think I would like to work with a team and do a project like this.
What a great proposal. Should have been a finalist! Leslie, It looks like the box store is still intact and the housing is created around the perimeter. The parking lot seems to work well with residents mostly using it mostly after work hours, while patrons of the retail stores will be using it during normal business hours.
It would be nice to see this project taken even a step further and maybe have it connected to public transportation and maybe eliminate some of the parking spaces altogether…