The Oil Drum

Back from vacation, seeing relatives out in the hinterland. We saved a lot of miles by carpooling with family during most of the trip, although it was a tight squeeze in the car.

The more I see the suburban and commercial sprawl over former farmland, the more I worry about our ability to relocalize in many areas. At the same time, there is great potential to reconstitute many suburban areas into small towns with real walkable streets. The main problem in my opinion is exclusive zoning. At my girlfriend's parents place in the suburbs, we did a lot of short runs in the car just to get basic food, pharmacy and other goods from the strip mall 3 miles down the road. Just plopping down a small retail plot on every block or making one retail strip every few blocks, would have easily made the area more convenient and walkable.

The most surreal experience was going to the newest outdoor shopping area called The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley (http://www.thepromenadeshopsatsauconvalley.com/info/aboutUs.cfm). It was organized just like a small town downtown shopping district feel. Instead of being inside the whole time, you walked around outside from shop to shop. Most were big chain retailers, but there were a few local shops thrown in. The only way to access this was by car, even for the people in the various housing tracts, golf course & hotel across the highway.

Here is a quote from their website:

The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley was developed and is leased by Poag & McEwen Lifestyle Centers, LLC, a growing company and industry leader in the Lifestyle Center concept. In fact, Poag & McEwen coined the term “Lifestyle Center” nearly two decades ago to describe their vision of developing a distinctive shopping experience like no other. This concept was designed specifically to complement today’s contemporary lifestyles. Unlike enclosed malls and neighborhood shopping centers, Lifestyle Centers feature up-close parking as well as parking around the perimeter of the center.

The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley boasts a bustling Main Street reminiscent of down-town-style shopping of yesteryear. A beautifully appointed sidewalk “promenade” complete with old-fashioned street lamps and cozy seating areas connects the stores to provide a perfect place for strolling, dining and shopping in one of the Valley’s most picturesque settings. The difference most people notice when they first see the site is the way Poag & McEwen has integrated The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley into the environment. Sparkling water features, a Town Square area to use as a place to relax and take-in the surroundings, and stunning store fronts that harmonize with the entire concept are all part of the grand plan.