Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Most New DC Walmarts Get Failing Grade as Urban Buildings

Walmart's anxiously anticipated move into cities is well underway in our nation's capital. The first two stores in Washington, DC, open today.

A new urban Walmart in D.C. at least has underground parking, but otherwise it's similar to a suburban model. Image: ##http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/12/walmart-opens-two-dc-stores-tomorrow.html## Richard Layman##
The new Georgia Avenue Walmart in Washington has underground parking instead of surface parking, but otherwise it's similar to the suburban model. Image: ##http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2013/12/walmart-opens-two-dc-stores-tomorrow.html##Richard Layman##
false

How has the retail giant adapted its monolithic suburban stores and gigantic parking lots to city settings? Richard Layman at Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space has been evaluating how the DC Walmarts function as urban buildings, and he is not impressed:

The biggest misconception about Walmart's new focus on "city" locations is that their entry necessarily means "urban-appropriate" and/or mixed use development choices. The experience in DC is that Walmart is agnostic about "urban design" and mixed use questions. If a developer comes to them with a project that is urban and mixed use, and it is in a location that they want to be in, they will say yes. But at the same time, if a developer comes to them with a site they are interested in, but a project that isn't particularly urban-appropriate, they are fine with that too.

So in DC, two of the five projects that Walmart is involved in are definitely urban-mixed use projects, where the store is on the ground floor or second story of a multistory mixed use development--at New Jersey Avenue NW, which is one of the stores opening tomorrow, and at Fort Totten, a couple blocks from a Metro Station, to be located on Riggs Road NE. The other stores are not.

Two are part of site plans that have other elements, so could be considered to be "horizontal" mixed use. But the Georgia Avenue store, opening tomorrow, was designed to not take advantage of the ability to develop vertically. Sure it will have underground parking and a zero foot setback from the sidewalk, but that's as urban as it gets. Which is a great disappointment.

Elsewhere on the Network today: People for Bikes lists its choices for the top 10 protected bike lanes of 2013. Pedestrian Observations explores train control systems and their potential to reduce crashes. And Cyclelicious shows off San Jose's new green bike lane.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Tuesday’s Headlines Go to the Polls

Transit is on the ballot today in Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville and elsewhere.

November 5, 2024

A Last Look at the Role of Sustainable Transportation in the Race to the White House

Let's take a look back at how the candidates have governed and talked about car culture so far.

November 5, 2024

Tackling Transportation Emissions Requires Focus on Transit

California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard has flown under the radar for a long time, and recently has come under attack. But if California is serious about climate action, we must clean up our fuel supply while also reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

November 4, 2024

DECISION ’24: The Next President Needs a Vision for America’s Transportation Future

No matter who wins the White House, advocates are ready to push for the transportation system we all deserve — starting with these nine principles.

November 4, 2024

Monday’s Headlines Raise Taxes to Cut Emissions

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy took to Bloomberg to share ideas for cutting transportation emissions through the tax code.

November 4, 2024
See all posts