Big Box stores and their reuse...

[Javaman]

This has long been a pet peeve of mine, what to do with the empty big box stores left behind in the wake of foreclosure, bankruptcy or it moves on to a new location and the failing Malls that are struggling to survive as renters (stores) leave the mall. (first let me be very clear, I hate malls, they are a blight on humanity)

After reading this article:

Big Box of Trouble: Dealing with the Coming Plague of Empty Superstores

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/02/25/big-box-of-trouble-dealing-with-the-coming-plague-of-empty-superstores/

I had another idea.

Suppose a sort of renaissance of living would occur. Here in Austin, there is a new type of mall that was built. It's called the Domain. There are all sorts of legal issues going on with it, I'm not here to discuss that. However, I do like the model of how it was designed and built, but and it's a big but, it's only affordable to the upper middle class or yunnies (another group of people that should be banished to an island).

The concept of an open air mall is not new. Having people live in the same area of the mall is not new, however, with old failing malls, I think an opportunity is being lost.

The huge big box stores that once inhabited this malls have left huge echoing wreckage in their wake.

Suppose, those big box stores are turned into affordable housing? Subdivide them into apartment units or lofts. But That's not where it ends. Renovate these spaces to make them sustainable. Turn a huge portion of the monstrous parking lot into a community garden shared but it's residents. Instead of moronic chain stores, encourage tailors, shoe makers, dress makers, grocery markets to take up a space. Even open up the ceiling to allow actually fresh air in (what a concept). With the huge surface area the roof takes up, install solar panels, and windmills or even a green roof.

This also could be done with vacant big box stores. Subdivide them, make them green. Put in a cistern, wind mills and solar panels.

This to me would be a much better use of the space.

But this is all just off the top of my head.

What do you all think?

[Lost in CT]

1. They have converted old mills and sweatshops into overpriced housing

I see no reason a big box store couldn't be converted as well.

[Donnachaidh]

3. I don't think those big box stores are built as well as some of the old mills

I've seen conversions of the older mills, and they are solid and tight. Big Box Stores are the opposite, and I for one would NOT pay money to stay in those monstrosities.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. It's an architectural challenge....

...to re-purpose a building designed from the get-go to be 100,000 sq. ft. of space enclosed at the smallest conceivable cost consistent with staying up -- or more accurately, not falling down -- and nothing else. There's not much building to work with.

It's the opposite, in some ways, of rehabbing the mill complexes in the old New England mill cities like Biddeford/Saco or Lowell or Waterbury. Those buildings were over-constructed for their re-purposed roles.

The sites are another matter --- access roads, etc. utilities, all in place. Run in light rail, or even better, a Brazilian-style dedicated busway, and you've got a node in a satellite city, less the housing.

[City of Mills]

8. Living in a rehabbed mill is great

I'm currently living in this complex:



I've been here few years, and I love it...the structure is rock solid, and the building itself is very well insulated and quiet. I walk everywhere - anything I need is within a few blocks, including a grocery store and my employer. The area is still a work in progress, some of the mill buildings are still vacant and exposed to the elements, but there's a lot of potential here.

[texanshatingbush]

9. Ditto--the damages they sustain in an average tornado are sobering n/t

[4lbs]

4. I don't mind malls too much, as they can be good centralized areas for purchasing goods.

However, I do agree that maybe there are too many of them, especially in the larger cities.

My current area has 5 malls within a 5 mile radius of me. That seems a little excessive.


Nevertheless, in one of the malls, there used to be a K-Mart store. It closed several years ago, and the rumor was that Home Depot would be taking the space and opening up a new store there. It didn't happen and the large building, with equally large parking lot, has been vacant since then.

[Kansas Wyatt]

5. Processing Centers for Republicans....

To determine which ones go to re-education camps and which ones get sent to Gitmo.

[Staph]

6. A local Walmart moved to a new store a few years ago.

The old store was bought by a group of doctors. They have turned it into a one-stop medical shop -- with internists, pediatrics, senior specialist, ear-nose-and-throat docs, just about every specialty that you can think of, with an in-house pharmacy and medical device shop.

My 85-year-old mother goes there, and can see all of the doctors required for her various problems, all under one roof. It's a great way to re-use that big box!

[monmouth]

7. Skating and ice rinks to help get kids off the streets.....n/t