American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What is notable about the County Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri?

1. It was the first suburban auto-oriented shopping center.

2. It was the first shopping mall in the U.S.

3. It was the largest shopping center in the country.

4. It featured the first indoor shopping layout.

The correct answer is: It was the first suburban auto-oriented shopping center.

The County Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, is notable for being one of the first suburban auto-oriented shopping centers. It was designed in the early 1920s with a layout that catered to automobiles, integrating accessible parking and wide roads, which contributed to the rise of auto-oriented developments in suburban areas across the United States. This design was a significant shift from traditional urban shopping districts that relied on pedestrian access. The Plaza was influenced by Spanish architecture and was designed to create a unique shopping experience that set it apart from other retail centers of its time, making it a pioneering model for future suburban shopping developments that came to prioritize the automobile. The incorrect choices relate to various other characteristics of shopping centers and plazas. While the Plaza is indeed significant, it is not the first shopping mall in the U.S. nor is it the largest shopping center in the country. Additionally, it does not feature the first indoor shopping layout, as those concepts developed separately in different contexts. These distinctions clarify the Plaza's unique historical role as an auto-oriented shopping center rather than being labeled under other categories associated with shopping centers.