How To: Makeovers for Struggling Malls

Lean Urbanism recently released a "lean" guide to sprawl repair—focusing on how to bring struggling shopping malls back to life.

1 minute read

March 26, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Nicholas Eckhart / Flickr

David Friedlander introduces "one of the more clever mall retrofits we’ve seen," urban planning firm Duany Plater-Zyberk's proposal for the Oak Hollow Mall in High Point, North Carolina.

According to Friedlander, the proposal would have turned the mall into "a mixed-use, small-business village to be known as 'Inc.Pad.'"

"The mall itself would be turned into artisan workshops and storage. Some stores would be turned into residential and work studios, and the food court would be converted into a certified kitchen and culinary institute," writes Friedlander.

For a detailed account of the project, check out the original post on the Lean Urbanism website, written by Galina Tachieva. Tachieva also includes a list of recommendations for how communities should approach a retrofit of underperforming commercial properties.

FULL STORY: Lean Sprawl Repair – Mall Retrofit

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in Lean Urbanism

Urban Development North Carolina Suburban Retrofit Dead Malls Sprawl Repair Lean Urbanism View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.