The Dark Store Theory and Big Box Stores

Michael Burayidi, Professor of Urban Planning, worked with the DSL and with Angie Gibson of University Libraries GIS Research and Map Collection to produce The Dark Store Theory and Big Box Stores, a visualization of urban property tax revenues, to demonstrate the inefficiencies associated with low-density land use (such as big box stores surrounded by parking lots). Using tax data from nine cities in Iowa, Burayidi produced interactive visualizations for each place using Esri’s ArcGis Storymap platform. These tools offer planners and policy makers a clear demonstration of the benefits of high density, mixed use development over low-density, sprawling development, especially in small and mid-sized cities.