Shopping and town centers:   beyond the superstore
Commercial businesses are needed to support local government- from infrastructure to local schools- and provide jobs for area residents. Yet many malls built in the 1960's and 1970's are facing decline, just as downtowns did in prior decades.   
     Today, Main Street, a fixture of Midwestern small towns, is making a comeback. Characteristics of Main Street are being revived in historic suburban downtowns and at malls being built or redeveloped to create a sense of place and interest. The goal is long-term economic sustainability achieved through building on the strengths of the local area. 		  

has been a continually successful shopping center in Lake Forest  for the last 100 years. Located across the street from a train  station, it is a major focal point for the community. It is anchored by a large department store. Offices and apartments are located above the stores allowing cars and pedestrians to coexist in   
balance. Modern buildings which require parking, including a new library and post office, have been added nearby without destroying the integrity of the site. Market Square has been the model for many shopping and town centers across the nation.   

  
in Schaumburg includes professional offices, retail shops, a restaurant and a private day care center. There is ample parking in the back of the square and almost every shop has a convenient rear entrance. Those that do not have rear exits are accessible by a pedway leading from the front of the square to the parking lot. 
   
 		 Guiding principles for Retail Development:  

  Build upon the assets of existing suburban downtowns;   

  Transform malls into hubs for the community;   

   Allow for multiple uses with housing or offices above stores;   

  Encourage people to stroll by creating focal points, upgrading streetscapes and   
providing welcoming street furniture; and   

  Do not zone for more "big box" or "category killer" stores than the market will absorb, and integrate such development into centers (through pooled parking and access to transit) rather than in isolated developments.