Consumerism Gone Amuck!

In Sunday's Cleveland Plain Dealer, there was a detailed story about the apparent imminent collapse of the City View Shopping Center in Garfield Heights. The original concept was a great idea, in theory – take an area that is largely residential and build a large commercial zone, enabling the community to increase revenue for civic and school improvements. The complex was built on top of a landfill that many believed to be responsible for causing cancer and other diseases in residents. In cooperation with government environmental regulatory agencies, the landfill was covered by gravel and then asphalt. But apparently something went wrong. After some environmental scares, including methane leaks, Wal-mart and several other major big box stores moved out. In addition, other developments in neighboring communities have opened with success, taking business away from the fledgeling development. Meanwhile, Garfield Heights has already spent revenue it expected to earn, building a new state-of-the-art high school and other projects, putting the city into major debt. The development is now in receivership. Unless something changes, it is likely to be closed down by the end of the year.

This whole event is a reflection of the flaw in American economic thinking/planning. Ohio has over 37 square feet of retail space per person, vs. the national average of 30-40 feet (source: Cuyahoga County Planning Commission). Where is the regional planning? How many big box stores do we need? How can Ohio support that much retail with almost 10 percent unemployment? Meanwhile, most of the products in these stores are made overseas, so we have become the agents of our own demise.

You can read more here at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.