Lakeside Mall owner wants to demolish it, build $1 billion mixed-use project

[EGrant]

If turning a mall and giant parking lot into a mixed-use development with moderate density is going to create sprawl, then we are truly doomed to sprawl ourselves into never-ending debt. Fortunately, that logic doesn't make any sense at all.

[Burnsie]

This will maintain density. The buildings will be utterly forgettable. Cheaply built "luxury" apartments & condos on the upper stories, largely vacant first floor retail below with restaurants, nail salons, Verizon store, Walgreen/CVS/RiteAid, bars, a microbrewery or two trying to fill it out. A few longtime chains, some "new to Michigan!", a "farm to table" grocery store and restaurant. The locally owned places will be mostly out of business within the first couple of years and for the next 3 years after that will feature "AVAILABLE CBRE.COM" signs. I've seen this game before many times. A smaller version of it is largely complete between East Lansing and Lansing. Huge fawning media coverage about the "walkable, sustainable, green, diverse, vibrant, game-changing, world-class amenities."

30 years later after all the tax breaks finally expire, we'll be reading stories about the "aging, outmoded buildings," with 90% of the first-floor space vacant or converted to a low-rent axe-throwing venue. But don't worry, as a developer will present plans to "reinvent, reimagine and unlock the value of this property with the assistance of local governments."

[Richard]

That’s a fact.

Florida it happens at an accelerated pace,take a farmers field,throw up 1500 boxes and in less then 10 years 1/2 of the residents will be moving further out escaping to less density while what they left behind turns to trash.

Suburbs and density should not even be used in the same sentence,thier very existence is based on not being dense,that is what the core cities are for.

[EGrant]

Suburbs and density should not even be used in the same sentence,thier very existence is based on not being dense,that is what the core cities are for.

Let's not kid ourselves, this isn't downtown Birmingham they're building, it's a fancier version of a strip mall with a park and housing. I don't mean that in a derogatory way either.

I'd much rather have that instead of a dying mall surrounded by quite possibly the biggest parking lot in Metro Detroit, but to each their own I guess.

[Gistok]

Probably more of the same as on Lakeside Blvd N., north of Lakeside. Lots of apartments with "faux" storefronts on the 1st floor. Looks like a lot of empty stores...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6323...7i16384!8i8192

[mikeg19]

Probably more of the same as on Lakeside Blvd N., north of Lakeside. Lots of apartments with "faux" storefronts on the 1st floor. Looks like a lot of empty stores...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6323...7i16384!8i8192

I drove thru there a couple days ago. It is one of the worst representations of a faux downtown streetscape I have ever seen.

[Jimaz]

Probably more of the same as on Lakeside Blvd N., north of Lakeside. Lots of apartments with "faux" storefronts on the 1st floor. Looks like a lot of empty stores...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6323...7i16384!8i8192

I discovered that by accident a few years ago. My first thought was "Did I take a wrong turn and end up in Europe?" LOL!

It does make you wonder where and why that idea originated. I'll give it that. Maybe that was its purpose, to generate buzz{, he buzzed}.

[EGrant]

I also accidentally ended up there. I think I was trying to get to the Home Depot? That street feels like an abandoned movie set or something. Very strange.

[Gistok]

King Charles III of UK was the instigator of Poundsbury... a UK small town made up entirely of "pastishe"... new buildings built with historic architecture. I find Poundsbury very interesting, and one of the best recreations of old architecture. I could live there!

https://www.google.com/search?q=Poun...ih=577&dpr=1.5

Many consider then Prince Charles town of Poundsbury on his [former] Duchy of Cornwall estate like a Disneyland where you can live, but one thing it doesn't lack is charm.

But the American mini-version seen on Lakeside Blvd., is very much a tacky street... and as many have said, it does indeed look like a movie back lot!

[Richard]

Let's not kid ourselves, this isn't downtown Birmingham they're building, it's a fancier version of a strip mall with a park and housing. I don't mean that in a derogatory way either.

I'd much rather have that instead of a dying mall surrounded by quite possibly the biggest parking lot in Metro Detroit, but to each their own I guess.

I have an acquaintance that has been building little mini towns in the burbs in about the same amount of space.

He takes the perimeter and lines it with condos,or townhouses,but call it a condo and it becomes posh.

In the center is a commercial block of sorts with some office space,sports bar,a couple of other restaurants etc,it’s all in a park like setting with a park for the crib rats and dogs.

They are actually quite popular and sell out before being finished,the condos start at $550k.

He does not even spend close to a billion dollars developing it all. It seems like to lend any credence to any project up there you have to attach a billion to 10 billion price tag on it.

Density is classified at different levels,low,medium,high.

When they make these announcements they really need to be more specific as to what level of density they are creating.

[hybridy]

King Charles III of UK was the instigator of Poundsbury... a UK small town made up entirely of "pastishe"... new buildings built with historic architecture. I find Poundsbury very interesting, and one of the best recreations of old architecture. I could live there!

https://www.google.com/search?q=Poun...ih=577&dpr=1.5

Many consider then Prince Charles town of Poundsbury on his [former] Duchy of Cornwall estate like a Disneyland where you can live, but one thing it doesn't lack is charm.

But the American mini-version seen on Lakeside Blvd., is very much a tacky street... and as many have said, it does indeed look like a movie back lot!

Paseo Cayalá in Guatemala City would scratch your faux town itch, as it's basically a spread out mall.

https://architecturehereandthere.com...aceful-cayala/

[Gistok]

^ Country Club Plaza, in Kansas City MO, is the world's first suburban outdoor shopping mall... opened in 1923.

It has a Moorish and Baroque vibe, and is doing very well a century later...

https://www.google.com/search?q=Kans...ih=577&dpr=1.5

They have both a Cheesecake Factory AND an Apple Store!

[EASTSIDER BALDUCK]

First time down 59/hall in 30+ years

What a schythole corridor.

[Henry Whalley]

schythole corridor.

+1000%

[mikeg19]

+1000%

How dare you? With such landmarks as the Golden Ring and Panda Express, I scoff at the insinuation that Hall road is no more then a "Schythole".

[Henry Whalley]

How dare you? With such landmarks as the Golden Ring and Panda Express, I scoff at the insinuation that Hall road is no more then a "Schythole".

Yeah, what's up with that golden ring?

[Jimaz]

First time down 59/hall in 30+ years

What a schythole corridor.

That must be why it's called The Golden Butthole of Macomb County.

[Jimaz]

Probably more of the same as on Lakeside Blvd N., north of Lakeside. Lots of apartments with "faux" storefronts on the 1st floor. Looks like a lot of empty stores...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6323...7i16384!8i8192

...

It does make you wonder where and why that idea originated. I'll give it that. Maybe that was its purpose, to generate buzz{, he buzzed}.

I didn't go looking for it but the YouTube algorithm recommended this video which attempts to describe the rationale for this architecture.

Why "Fake" Downtowns Are The New Malls

Call them what you want — lifestyle centers, suburban town centers, insta-cities. Found in suburban neighborhoods around our major cities, these compact outdoor malls are everywhere. But… why do they exist?

I gather it's meant to make commercialism more stealthy because, presumably, people became fed up with overcommercialization.

Heh. This mall has been sanitized for your protection.