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Strip malls, city trees, and community values

Informally Refereed

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Contingent valuation, mall, preference, public response, retail, roadside, survey, visual quality.

Citation

Wolf, Kathleen L. 2009. Strip malls, city trees, and community values. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 35(1): 33-40.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/34947