“Big Box” Stores Tabitha Kastner Aaron Gutierrez

What are “big box” retailers? Retailers that have scrambled merchandising that sell on low a margin/high turnover Stores are big in size and look like warehouses Have been characterized as “off the shelf buildings set in a sea of asphalt”.

Unhappy People Hundreds of grassroots organizations across the country are fighting to keep them out of their communities. Before approval: Impact assessments, design standards, and retail size limits must be addressed. One assessment claimed a 100,000 square foot store would cost the community $3 for every $1 of public benefit. In many cases subsidizes are being used to bring them to communities.

Design Standards

Evanston, Wyoming Limit stores to 30,000 square feet. Compatible with town’s older buildings All stores over 25,000 sq. feet to use red or light brick, simulated brick, grey or native stone, or wood on at least 30% of the main façade. Cinderblock is not allowed on the façade. Use earth toned colors, “interesting roof lines”, and architectural details.

Stores over 50,000 sq. feet must be screened with vegetation. Parking is must be on the sides or behind buildings whenever possible. Projects over 10,000 sq. feet must be screened by the Cape Cod Commission. Stores will be limited to 15,000 sq. feet. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

For stores over 80,000 sq. feet: Prohibits Long blank walls Requires display windows, awnings, and other features. Sidewalks must link stores to bus stops, street crossings, and entrances to buildings. Fort Collins, Colorado

Tax Credits to Encourage Businesses to Reuse Vacant Buildings Tax Credits to Encourage Businesses to Reuse Vacant Buildings

South Carolina: there is a pending legislation that will give a tax credit of 25 percent to any developer who renovates and uses vacant “big box” stores. The reason for the new legislation is that retailers have been building bigger stores and leaving their old stores vacated. The communities of the vacate buildings are worried about the effect on the environment and the quality of the neighborhoods. “Big Box” retailers have becoming a problem and some feel that a tax credit will encourage developers to use the land but others feel that the state does not have the money to offer tax credit to the developers.

Improving Public Relations

Sources “Big-box sprawl (and how to control it)”; National trust for historic preservation; Published: March/April 2002; Accessed: April 25, “Redeem vacant “big box” sites, without using tax credits”; The State; Published: April 25, 2005; Accessed: April 26,