What is Urban Decay? (And Why the Answer Matters)
Cities have begun requiring developers of large-format retail stores (aka: “big box stores”) to prepare what is called an “urban decay study.” The study is meant to identify possible environmental impacts that result from closing businesses over a period of time. The courts have largely upheld the legality of the urban decay study, so I’m not writing to discuss whether or not I think they are legal. However, despite their legality, urban decay requirements completely lack specificity, an omission that ultimately weakens the purpose of urban decay studies
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