Tue 18 Jul 2006
We have been contacted by other community organizations outside of Pittsburgh who saw this site and shared similar stories. (see http://northwestcarrollton.com/2006/07/16/other-neighborhoods-struggle/)
One such site (see http://b.rox.com/archives/2006/07/14/886/) shows the struggle being faced by a community group in New Orleans, who pointed me to this site showing photos where Walgreens leased (but did not build) a big-box style store built in an urban environment, but left it vacant. The empty store is being blamed for contributing to local neighborhood blight. Notice the protest signs there are protesting the inappropriateness of allowing suburban style stores in urban neighborhoods. While Walgreens did not develop this particular building, it is still an example of why it is important to design appropriately for the location, using urban designs for urban sites.
Walgreens is looking to build similar “one size fits all” stores in other part of New Orleans (as well and here in Park Place.)
[Thanks to jgpyke’s comment and corrections. Original posting has been modified to correct the mistatement that the building pictured was constructed for Walgreens specifcially.]
Actually, the picture shown above *is* a big box that used to be a grocery store. When that store went out of business, Walgreen’s bought it, yet they never refurbed or even opened, AFAIK. So the sins of Walgreen’s in this particular case are not exactly as you state. The other location in N.O. from whence you grabbed that pic is another story.