General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Mall Is Dead, And It's Taking Sbarro With It [View all]hunter
(38,263 posts)... we could turn it into apartments. Such apartments might be especially attractive to elderly people who could go walking every day without driving or putting up with bad weather.
Outdoors, a portion of the parking lot might be turned into parks and gardens.
Generally it takes less energy to repurpose buildings than to tear them down and start over.
With adequate pensions, Social Security, housing subsidies, and medical care, there could be lively markets inside the mall for residents and their visitors.
I remember what a treat it was when I was a little kid to walk with my grandma to the local dime store for ice cream, and sometimes even lunch at the counter. She lived in a traditional city setting of the sort that is rare now, especially in the suburbs.