Gateway Shopping Center

[stasu1213]

I wonder if Detroit will get back to having neighborhoods retail districts with anchor stores. Is the concept a thing of the past?

[313WX]

I wonder if Detroit will get back to having neighborhoods retail districts with anchor stores. Is the concept a thing of the past?

I doubt it.

These centers were built when Detroit still had its street car lines. As a result, the city was able to accomodate these dense/walkable areas that didn't depend on the automobile.

And even if, theoretically, the busineses can still build the types of retail strips like on 7 mile and Gratiot [[urban-friendly), why should they when the city won't enforce its zoning laws and it's much cheaper to build a suburban crap box.

[Honky Tonk]

"Sounds good to me. Any type of decent retail layed out any which way is better then the city's usual mix of wig shops, nail salons and crappy party stores."

I resent that. There are lots of good party stores in Detroit.

[Hermod]

These centers were built when Detroit still had its street car lines. As a result, the city was able to accomodate these dense/walkable areas that didn't depend on the automobile.

And even if, theoretically, the busineses can still build the types of retail strips like on 7 mile and Gratiot [[urban-friendly), why should they when the city won't enforce its zoning laws and it's much cheaper to build a suburban crap box.

There was a very vibrant 'regional" shopping area on Houston between Kelly and Hayes that was quite a distance from the nearest streetcar line [[Gratiot).

The Harper line didn't go east of Montclair, but the Harper and Chalmers area was quite dense with shopping.