Quote Originally Posted by shortstuff View Post
Miles, I like what you posted. Retrofitting box stores is an appropriate idea and I have seen it done. The Trico Building is one example. Although it is a warehouse structure, the entire building is a box style frame. From what I have read it has quite a few businesses.
Right. If the whole idea of re-use is built into the original design process then the flexibility would make it much easier for other stores, or multiple stores, to use the building after the Big Box moves out. It's not about vilifying big box stores... it's about getting them and their developers to add that extra design step that will help avoid having empty stores that no one else can afford to redevelop. The design of the building should not be limited to what it will do for the next 5 years under 1 owner. The design should plan for the entire life of the building and assume it will have many owners.