This ultimately leaves us with the question of what to do with all the space left behind? Communities can make two choices. Look at their sites as nuisances waiting with futility for a broker to lease them again, or look at it as an opportunity to transform their “greyfields” into lasting places — giving people a reason to come to these centers beyond filling their shopping bags.
Mizner Park, an example redevelopment of a former enclosed mall, known as the “Boca Mall.”
There are a growing number of repurposed centers across the country built around this concept of place making, with the recognition that redeveloping older, underperforming commercial centers into mixed-use, walkable destinations is the most effective, long-term strategy to enhance the economic and quality of life of the surrounding community. From Belmar in Lakewood, Colorado to Mizner Park in Boca Raton, the transformation of declining regional malls and shopping centers into residential, retail, office, parks, plazas and other public spaces not only supports community redevelopment goals, but more importantly addresses this global shift in preferences among millennials and boomers. In other words, these are same people who desire to work in their loft apartment, then grab some avocado toast at the artisan eatery, and later walk over and hang out at the local craft brewery — all in the same walkable location!
Another shot of Cityplace.
The successful redevelopment of these sites means that you’re also maximizing potential revenue support to your town, city, and neighborhood. Businesses pay sales taxes to the city and county and all that that tax money previously lost in these “greyfield” sites can be used to support public schools, new parks, improved transportation and utility infrastructure, as well as fund the growing expense of public service workers, like firefighters and police. It also makes the statement that your community embraces high quality development and the live-work-play lifestyles that can be accommodated in a compact, walkable environment.
More significantly, it is the opportunity to create a place that has the compelling ability to attract people, shaping and inspiring the physical and social character of a community for generations to come. The Beaches community has demonstrated a willingness to bring in new investment, including a variety of ever-popular, unique and authentic local businesses. Perhaps we should allow these investments to flourish in an environment that supports walkability and a mix of uses. This has proven to be the most successful and memorable development form since the dawn of civilization.
Winter Park Village was one of Florida’s first redevelopments of a struggling enclosed shopping mall into a mixed-use project.
Article by Fred Jones originally published on Voidlive.com. Fred Jones, AICP, of Neptune Beach is a senior project manager with Michael Baker International. He currently serves on the Neptune Beach City Council, as a board member for the Beaches Town Center Agency and as a member of the City of Jacksonville’s Downtown Development Review Board.