[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by lawfin

I hope you are right and I am wrong. But when I see this at the corner

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...=12,52.93,,0,0


and this type stuff up the street

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...1,273.1,,0,4.8

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...11,294.13,,0,0

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...=11,263.2,,0,0

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...&cbp=11,0,,0,0

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=North%...=11,57.82,,0,0


I get the rage inside about at best delayed opportunity and at worst lost opportunity. If thos examples would go midrise ~4-7 stories or so it would go along way to being more urban and I think better for the city as well

I agree, but a lot of those buildings were built when this was still a risky area of the city to invest in. I look at those strip malls as future parcels just waiting for a nice midrise or even highrise to be built on them. Same goes for several of the vacant lots and parking lots you've highlighted, they are just waiting for future development. The supply of open land here is rapidly dwindling at which point the owners of these blighting properties will cash in and tear down the strip mall for the new highest and best use of the land.

And, as much as I hate to admit it, those strip malls are partially responsible for creating the critical mass that has attracted such a dense retail scene in the area. At least they aren't condo lots with deeded parking where they can never be removed.