America's Ugly Strip Malls Were Caused By Government Regulation
If we know that we want mixed use buildings that encourage walkability, why do we keep ending up with strip malls? Forbes discusses the common government regulations that lead to strip malls and other forms of less appealing development.
“Strip-mall arterials exist nationwide, robbing cities of their appeal. The common wisdom is that they result from “the market,” as monuments to American capitalism and consumerism. But that is a big fat myth—they have been forced into existence by government regulations. Indeed, many of the regulations that prevent livelier downtown areas also harm the potential of low-density, outlying, suburban ones, by mandating that retail stay confined into this strip mall model. ”