Why no one likes indoor malls any more and SM Seaside needs condos and offices on top or connected!

I like the sound of the "new mall" with apartments above.

The mall that's viable now is different in some notable ways that go beyond the quality of its brands: It's open-air instead of hermetically sealed, its stores turn outward instead of in, it has restaurants below and apartments above, which means that some people don't even need to drive there.



Try looking at the Ayala Mall in Cebu as it builds its condos and hotels on top of and attached to the mall. Walk out onto the parklike plaza in the center where outdoor entertainment is provided. Look at the office buildings surrounding the mall for call centers and business. This is the mall of the future and the only design problem is the lack of benches with backs for people to relax and enjoy the mall instead of just benches with no backs.

In place of the giant mega-block wrapped in parking, it has its own compact street grid with pedestrian plazas. It feels almost like a neighborhood. It has room for a skating rink.

Robinsons Manila is another good example of condos attached over the mall but badly needs seats for customers in mall.

SM Seaside seems to be missing a major opportunity to have built in condos and call centers surrounding it to provide built in live in customers.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/01/06/why-no-one-likes-indoor-malls-any-more/

photo credit http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/28/d-valley-mall-to-offer-new-investment-opportunities/

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I've purchased two flat screens, four computers, yards and yards of various cables, all the components needed for home theatre, dozens of digital discs, blank and with content. I've had clothing , car parts, kid's toys and everything else I've needed to exist, delivered to my door. I only needed to know what I wanted and it was all ordered, Online. If all the retail stores in my city closed, I would only know about it from reading Online. The Internet has changed the way I live, completely. Going to 'The Mall' is so 20TH Century. I'm happy to live in the 21ST! I know I'm not alone.

A simple search for 'mall closings' or 'vanishing shopping malls' will show you that although there are "plenty of thriving malls" in the US, there are fewer of them every month that goes by. Malls are an endangered species.

The Economics (and Nostalgia) of Dead Malls

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/business/the-economics-and-nostalgia-of-dead-malls.html