[bratticus]

http://news.google.com/news?q=ghostboxes

[bratticus]

As retailers cut back, cities confront 'ghostboxes'
Associated Press
July 6, 2009

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The International Council of Shopping Centers says more than 6,900 retail stores announced they were closing last year.

That's a 50% increase over the 4,600 that closed in 2007.

And the closings have continued this year, including underperforming big-box stores, like the Home Depot in Bismarck, N.D. Its demise has left the community with a big, orange empty eyesore the size of a dozen football fields. And because it's nearly windowless, it's of limited use to other potential tenants.

... snip ...

[bratticus]

Communities confront 'ghostbox' buildings when big-box retailers leave

JAMES MacPHERSON
Associated Press
July 5, 2009

... skip ...

"There is not a landfill on earth able to handle all the big boxes that we have sitting empty," says Julia Christensen, author of the book "Big Box Reuse," who has been studying the trend since 2002.

... skip ...

"We are handing in excess of 2,000 locations for some 50-odd retailers, said Michael Burden, a principal with Excess Space Retail. "The square footage is in the tens of millions."

... snip ...

[Ferretlover]

Sounds like squatters will eventually have quite a selection of housing opportunities.

[Ferretlover]

Oops! Didn't realize we had already assigned class distinctions to the squatters! *giggle*

[the48thronin]

Oops! Didn't realize we had already assigned class distinctions to the squatters! *giggle*

and the words shelter and detention center are also different.. I guess it depends on what your local war lord will decide to call them how they will treat them? As to class distinctions, armed,,, independent....usfull.. mooch...dependent... we already do have those distinctions deep in our sub consciousness, the only thing the war lords will do is assign the labels to groups as they see fit! ( oh wait replace war lord with leader.... mayor... governor... you pick! ( no wait they will pick that's also their priveledge...LOL)

[bratticus]

and the words shelter and detention center are also different

But becoming less so over time it seems. Perhaps "jail" is a four-letter word for "overflow shelter" now.

Recession redefines ‘typical’ homeless

... In Mississippi, the number of homeless increased 42 percent last year; in Wyoming, 40 percent; in Montana and Missouri, 23 percent; and in Iowa, 22 percent.

The State of Homelessness in the U.S.

... The Department also noticed some troubling trends: more families seeking shelter — particularly in rural and suburban areas — and more people coming to shelters from stable living arrangements (instead of jails, institutional settings or the military).

Homeless staying in shelters longer during recession

... According to St. Cloud’s Salvation Army shelter, the stay in their facility is now eight days longer than it was last year, going from 30 to 38 days.

Herrin homeless shelter faces greater need, some turned away

... In the last 12 months, the shelter has assisted some 600 people, with everything from a place to stay to telephone assistance, to walk-in services. However, with the recent increase in need [Executive Director Peggy] Russell says they have had to turn away hundreds in over the last three months.

Homeless shelter to lose support of Salvation Army

... THE Salvation Army is set to pull out of running Bolton’s biggest homeless shelter because Bolton Council is drastically cutting the amount it spends on the project.

America's Jail Crisis

... Many of his clientèle are homeless and arrive on repeated criminal trespassing arrests.

[Kristen]

Soon to be renamed as the ruins from ghostboxes. Although 6,900 isn't a 50 percent increase from 4700, that would be 9,400.

[the48thronin]

Soon to be renamed as the ruins from ghostboxes. Although 6,900 isn't a 50 percent increase from 4700, that would be 9,400.

4700 x .5 = 2350

2350 + 4700 =7050 or 50 percent increase

9400 would be 4700 + 4700 or 100 percent increase.

Or is this some new math trick? Will it manufacture 3 trillion dollars in revenue to the government QUICK? We may have something here!