Community Context and Strip Mall Retail

2008 ◽  
Vol 2060 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen L. Wolf

Strip malls (or mini-malls) are a common land use, historically promoted by U.S. zoning practices that concentrate retail and commercial development in a narrow band along urban arterials and major streets. They are an entry-level retail niche offering opportunity for independent, start-up businesses that serve a limited market. Communities have begun to question land uses that enable efficient ingress and egress of vehicles in retail and commercial districts but give little attention to multimodal motility. Some communities are redeveloping small mall zones on the basis of “complete street” principles, expanding landscape plantings, and redeveloping the character of a business district. This study assessed public response to one element of small mall (re)development: landscape and vegetation. Prior studies indicated that consumer behavior is positively associated with city trees (urban forest) on multiple cognitive and behavioral dimensions. In mail surveys depicting varied roadside treatments, residents of three major cities in the Pacific Northwest were asked to indicate preferences and perceptions about proposed changes. Survey stimulus materials addressed visual quality, retail perceptions, patronage behavior, wayfinding, and willingness to pay for goods and services. Combined econometrics and psychometrics indicated that respondents prefer landscaped roadsides and report positive retail behavior, such as willingness to pay 8.8% more for goods and services in well-landscaped malls. Redevelopment and roadside management guidelines are proposed based on the research results, with implications for the economics of local communities.

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Kathleen Wolf

Strip malls (also known as mini-malls) are a common urban land use, historically promoted by U.S. zoning practices that concentrate retail and commercial development in a narrow band along arterials and major streets. More recently, communities are redeveloping mini-mall zones, expanding landscape plantings as biotechnology, and attempting to create a sense of place. This study assessed public response to urban forest and landscape options. Surveys depicted varied roadside, property-edge treatments. Residents of three major cities in the Pacific Northwest, U.S., were asked to indicate their preferences and perceptions concerning a four-concept framework: visual quality, retail perceptions, patronage behavior, and pricing for goods and services. Respondents preferred landscaped roadsides and report positive retail behavior such as willingness-to-pay 8.8% more for goods and services in well-landscaped malls. Roadside management guidelines are proposed based on the research results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 50-51
Author(s):  
Elaine Eliopoulos

Abstract This novel research was designed to explore the lived experience of the aging body and its impact on social exclusion in remote island environments. Twenty three participants, aged 80 to 102 years old, in the Pacific Northwest, USA, were interviewed to explore the role their bodies played in everyday life. Despite presenting limited choices and lifestyle options, the island communities appeared to foster rather than impede a sense of competency and autonomy in the lives of these later life participants. Their ability to navigate their worlds, despite their physical limitations, was apparent in their reports of inclusion in the manner they desired. The island community context, characterized by low technology and mostly face to face encounters for goods and services, presented the participants with the possibility of accessible and meaningful engagement. Their sense of self and inclusion casts doubt on the dominant narrative of decline typically used to describe these late years. New narratives of corporeal being emerged from the data, demonstrating a complexity not captured by the singularity of the decline narrative. The visual methodology utilized enriched the depth and range of the semi-structured interviews, encouraging participants to think critically about their bodies. Possibilities for further research could explore the nuances of these new narratives and whether a different understanding of the older body may be useful.


Author(s):  
Kathleen L. Wolf

Many cities and communities are working toward urban sustainability goals. Yet, retailers and merchants may not find environmental benefits to be compelling when compared to the direct costs of landscape and trees. Nonetheless, a quality outdoor environment may provide atmospherics effects that extend store appeal to the curb and heighten the positive experiences and psychological reactions of visitors while in a shopping district. A multi-study program of research shows that having a quality urban forest canopy within business districts and commercial areas can promote positive shopper perceptions and behavior. Positive responses include store image, patronage behavior, and willingness to pay more for goods and services. This chapter provides a summary of the research, connects results to psychological marketing theory, provides evidence-based design recommendations, and makes suggestions for potential future research activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-384
Author(s):  
Joshua Petter ◽  
Paul Ries ◽  
Ashley D’Antonio ◽  
Ryan Contreras

As urban areas expand, there are a greater number of urban trees; however, development often leads to a reduction in urban trees in many areas. A reduction in the canopy volume of trees results in a reduction in the number of benefits. Additionally, urban trees can have additional stressors and must be more actively managed to maintain those services. Selecting tree species for the right site can lead to greater benefits and longer-lived trees. Increasing diversity of urban trees can help to mitigate some of the threats facing urban forests, such as invasive pests and climate change. We surveyed Tree City USA designated cities across Oregon and Washington to explore how they are selecting tree species for their municipalities. Responses were recorded for 79 out of 151 municipalities for a 52.3% response rate. Both open-ended questions and descriptive statistics were used to triangulate how managers are selecting tree species. Emergent themes in open-ended responses indicate a variety of justifications for tree species selection and the challenges of balancing those criteria. There is evidence to suggest that these municipalities are actively diversifying the urban forest; however, there are still 10 municipalities that reported ash (Fraxinus spp.) in their top 5 most frequently planted species in 2016. Many municipalities are still planting large quantities of maple (Acer spp.). Overplanting certain genera and species can lead to an increase in susceptibility to pests and pathogens. We recommend an increase in consideration for the diversification of tree species in urban areas.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Tozer ◽  
Suzette P. Galinato ◽  
Carolyn F. Ross ◽  
Carol A. Miles ◽  
Jill J. McCluskey

AbstractWe conducted a blind tasting sensory evaluation experiment and a chemical analysis of four craft hard apple ciders from the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Using the sensory and demographic data collected during the experiment, we estimated the consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP), using a contingent valuation model. Overall liking, taste, and aroma, from the sensory evaluation, as well as age of the sampler and if the sampler was a cider drinker, contributed positively to the WTP. In contrast, if the subject was a beer drinker this reduced their WTP. From the chemical analysis we found that tannin level had a positive effect on WTP, but an increased level of sweetness, as part of a ratio of specific gravity to acid, decreased consumer WTP. (JEL Classifications: C91, D12, L66, Q13)


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-161
Author(s):  
Joshua Petter ◽  
Paul Ries ◽  
Ashley D’Antonio ◽  
Ryan Contreras

Trees provide an array of social, economic, and ecological benefits; furthermore, trees on public land are critical for providing those benefits to people who cannot afford their own trees. It is important to know how managers make trade-offs and prioritize different tree selection criteria in order to target educational campaigns at the state or regional level. Primary contacts for Tree City USA designated cities were surveyed across the Pacific Northwest. Of these municipalities, 79 out of 151 responded (52.3% response rate), with 6 municipalities providing responses from different departments for a total of 85 responses. Currently, there are primarily descriptive statistics in relation to tree species selection. This study provides a framework for future statistical analysis and greater exploration of how municipalities and managers are selecting tree species. Results were analyzed with a Mann-Whitney U test to compare International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists® to those who are not certified across various tree species selection criteria. Another Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare small (≤ 50,000) and large (> 50,000) municipalities across the same criteria. ISA Certified Arborists® showed statistically significant differences from those who are not certified in a number of tree species selection criteria. ISA Certified Arborists® also differed in urban forest management on a city-wide scale, particularly in favoring greater tree species diversity. The differences in urban forest management between ISA Certified Arborists® and noncertified—and between municipality sizes—can help to influence future educational campaigns targeted toward increasing urban forest health and resiliency.


Author(s):  
Kathleen L. Wolf

Many cities and communities are working toward urban sustainability goals, and the urban forest is one strategy to achieve environmental and social co-benefits. Yet retailers and merchants may not find environmental benefits to be compelling when compared to the direct costs of landscape and trees. Nonetheless, a quality outdoor environment can extend store appeal to the curb and boost positive experiences of visitors while in a shopping district. This chapter presents information about the atmospherics of green retail environments. A multi-study program of research shows that having a quality urban forest canopy within business districts and commercial areas can promote positive shopper perceptions and behavior. Positive responses have included store image, patronage behavior, and willingness to pay more for goods and services. This chapter provides a summary of the research, connects results to various psychological marketing theories, provides evidence-based design recommendations, and suggests future research activity.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Case ◽  
John B. Kim ◽  
Becky K. Kerns

We demonstrate a generalizable approach for assessing climate change effects on tribally important ecosystem goods and services. Indigenous peoples may be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because they rely on ecosystem goods and services, such as traditional foods, hunting, timber production, nontimber forest resources, and cultural resources. However, there are few assessments that have examined the potential impact of climate change on these goods and services and even less that examine ecological, socio-economic, and cultural resources in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Our approach uses four basic steps: (1) identify 78 tribally important ecosystem services (species and resources), (2) relate those ecosystem services with biologically relevant vegetation projections from a dynamic global vegetation model, (3) identify appropriate timeframes and future climate scenarios, and (4) assess future changes for vegetation types and ecosystem services. We then highlight how model uncertainty can be explored to better inform resilience building and adaptation planning. We found that more than half of the species and resources analyzed may be vulnerable to climate change due to loss of potential habitat, including aridland species and grazing quality. We further highlight our findings for tribally important species, huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentate (Pursh) DC.), and show how this information can be applied to help inform resource management and adaptation planning. We have demonstrated a generalizable approach that identified tribally important ecosystem services and related them with biologically relevant vegetation projections from a Dynamic Global Vegetation Model. Although our assessment is focused in the Pacific Northwest, our approach can be applied in other regions for which model data is available. We recognize that there is some inherent uncertainty associated with using model output for future scenario planning; however, if that uncertainty is addressed and applied as demonstrated by our approach, it then can be explored to help inform resource management and adaptation planning.


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