ON: Across America, the Dead Malls Are Growing
Posted 01-04-2015 at 08:35 PM by Blondebaerde
Quote:
Originally Posted by Komeht
Great NYTs article and the accompanying slid-show is creepy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/bu...pl-share&_r=0#
Of course, dead malls and their accompanying underperforming parking aprons are prime opportunities and low-hanging fruit for suburban retrofits. These will end up being large blank slates - it's easy to demolish the buildings, cut in some roads, and plat the land. They frequently have all the utilities and more than sufficient zoning in place to develop mixed-use town centers without having to go through NIMBY wards. As far as fixing suburbia, it doesn't get any easier than a dead mall - so each one that dies is a cause for celebration and a hopeful sign of good things to come.
With 1/5th of nation's enclosed malls having large vacancy rates there will be lots of great opportunities in future. If you have a dead or dying mall in your area - consider getting involved and advocate for something really great and urban to replace them.
Enjoy the read!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/bu...pl-share&_r=0#
Of course, dead malls and their accompanying underperforming parking aprons are prime opportunities and low-hanging fruit for suburban retrofits. These will end up being large blank slates - it's easy to demolish the buildings, cut in some roads, and plat the land. They frequently have all the utilities and more than sufficient zoning in place to develop mixed-use town centers without having to go through NIMBY wards. As far as fixing suburbia, it doesn't get any easier than a dead mall - so each one that dies is a cause for celebration and a hopeful sign of good things to come.
With 1/5th of nation's enclosed malls having large vacancy rates there will be lots of great opportunities in future. If you have a dead or dying mall in your area - consider getting involved and advocate for something really great and urban to replace them.
Enjoy the read!
A "mall" seems like a ditzy concept to me anymore, doing the bulk of my business for (most things) on Amazon. In fact I'm really not into retail or "shopping" for ___t other than groceries and a few products and services that must be purchased in-person. Couple hundred thousand close-and-personal, well-heeled "haves" in greater Seattle seem to feel the same way? The local upscale mall is more an "event" than "shopping destination," with pseudo-stores like Mont Blanc, Swarovski, and Tesla. That's a marketing gala, not stores with actual inventory beyond a few basics.
Thus, assuming similar is true elsewhere in America (and rest of the West?) as-well. The article does suggest a complex mix of factors is at-play.
