42 replies to this topic

[jas49503]

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[Lmichigan]

Well, "strip mall" describes a linear retail building, usually built parallel to a street.  A "lifestyle center" usually has a central pedestrian square surrounded by parking and shops.  Lifestyles centers are glorified open-air malls.  The concepts are different, though, both are highly auto-oriented.  Eastwood's not so bad, though, when you compare it to the parking Walmart and Sam's Club have just across the street.  But, from what I've seen of Lansing Township's masterplan, as the area densifies, they can convert some of the surface lots to small parking garages which would consolidate parking and open up the remaining parking lands up for other usages.

Edited by Lmichigan, 02 January 2009 - 10:37 PM.

[hood]

Two examples of proposed lifestyle centers that will actually be lifestyle centers are the East Village development in EL and the Whitehills Towncenter in EL/Bath. They will both have street front retail with multiple floors of residential above, park space and condensed/underground parking.

A good, but small current example is Gaslight Village in East GR.