America’s Declining Malls

US News and World Report examines some of the contributing factors that have lead to a general decline in many of America’s malls, once the stalwarts of suburban prosperity and convenience. One interesting note from the article is the underlying (and accepted) notion that malls have “natural lifespans,” owing to changes in consumer habits, architecture and population.

A fact that assumes developers are intentionally constructing these shopping centers with a level of obsolescence in mind, knowing full well that when these old spaces eventually shut down, they’ll simply build elsewhere. Some estimates predict that as many ten percent of these complexes could close within the next few years, depriving local economies of jobs and leaving vacant buildings and parking lots in their wake.

And while economic downturn is certainly speeding this downward trend, one can’t help but think that it’s the model itself that’s broken. Once single-use facilities outlive their usefulness, it’s often difficult and costly for anything to assume all that real estate, which points to the necessity for more thoughtful planning from the outset. Complexes that attempt to incorporate the needs of the communities they serve into their overall design have a much better chance of surviving harsh financial conditions.

The article is accompanied by a rather eerie slideshow depicting scenes from America’s Most Endangered Malls. 

[via US News and World Report]