ABSTRACT

This chapter reports on studies that address these three contradictions: A study of neighborhood stores suggests conditions under which the stores can be viable; a study of mixed income housing suggests conditions under which people in different income groups are likely to work together; and a study of participatory planning shows how the process of planning can lead to the formation of a community. Architects and urban designers have argued that community plans should include neighborhood stores because the stores facilitate social interaction and produce a sense of belonging. However, can neighborhood stores really be economically viable in an age of malls, supermarkets, and bargain outlets? The neighborhoods differ considerably in their social and economic makeup, and each has its own community association. The Canton study confirms that neighborhood stores contribute to the creation or strengthening of community and finds that residents will accept a mix of uses–but under certain conditions.