Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts By

Director This research project explores the development practices of chain drugstores and the effects that these developments have on traditional downtowns in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The study first explores the evolution of the pharmaceutical industry and identifies the existing competitive nature of the drug market. The study evaluates chain drugstores ' aggressive growth strategies and standard prototypes for building and site design. Windshield survey of Walgreens drugstores in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts provided insight as to the chain ' s common development practices. This method identified the standard prototype building designs and signage that the drugstores use to minimize costs and maximize efficiency. It was determined that this practice of locating "cookie-cutter " stores in older downtown settings commonly disrupts the existing scale and architectural character of older commercial districts. Innovative planning concepts that promote better design such as downtown visio