iami, the third largest luxury market in the United States, was once one hundred percent controlled by the Whitman family, owners of the Bal Harbour Shops. For years, the 500,000 square-foot Bal Harbour Shops, located north of Miami Beach on Highway A1A near 5-star hotels and high-rise luxury condos, restricted its luxury retailers from opening second stores in the market.
akeside Park is one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the U.S. More than just a theme park, Lakeside is a symbol of gentler times, when amusement parks were cherished gardens of family entertainment and a place for safe risk-taking. Today, an informed exploration of Lakeside’s iconic concession stands, ticket booths and rides showcases Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern architectural periods.
nternet shopping, same day delivery and new channels of retail distribution requires the complete rethinking of shopping-center designs by architects, retailers, and developers.
Rick Hill in an article published in ARE magazine presents a case for a different way of thinking about shopping center design, one that challenges the very notion of a fixed brick-and-mortar place. He envisions something that is adaptable, varied, flexible, dynamic, and fluid—something that can accommodate a far more dynamic mix of shops.
n an article written for Downtown Idea Exchange, Rick Hill writes about the “in-between” zones of downtowns. He describes the underbellies and backsides of downtowns: those areas characterized by acres of underutilized parcels and aging and often functionally obsolete buildings, as the most intriguing of all urban zones. He states: “Even in their tattered state these remnant zones of previous industrial, manufacturing, and segregation economies offer hope, promise and the greatest potential for economic development.”
ocated in downtown Bardstown, Kentucky, North Third Street is more than a charming boulevard lined with irresistible shops. It is a quintessential main street experience and the center of 35 square-block national historic landmark district, called the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” by USA Today. It is also Rick Hill’s hometown.