My post earlier this week about shopping malls and performing arts centers generated some thoughtful reader response. Richard Layman took me to task for putting only a positive spin on the self-contained ‘mall’ concept (as defined by shopping malls and extended by Lincoln Center-style ‘culture malls’). Says Richard:
Your discussion about Lincoln Center ignored the negative impact its creation had on the surrounding area, based on Jane Jacobs-type principles of urban design. This (LC) is discussed in a chapter of the book _The Living City_ by Roberta Gratz. This would go double for the Kennedy Center, which is an isolated mall apart from anything exciting in the city. Your entry talked about all the ‘positives’ of the mall and none of the negatives, particularly the way malls are closed off from the vitality of the streets. Today’s shopping center developments are ‘lifestyle centers’ and are street-focused, even if the streets are faux. These days, hardly any malls are being constructed anywhere in the country. It is the primary reason why department stores are declining.
Liz Russell pointed to an interesting hybrid in Seattle, that has worked to revitalize a community and a mall with an emphasis on cultural activity. Says Liz:
On the eastside of Seattle a local developer has taken what was a deteriorating mall in the middle of a large ethnic community and created a center to that community with live performing arts of ethnic music and poetry, an oversized chess set for the Russian emigrants and pulled in such sensible elements as a local library branch. Oh, and let¹s not forget good ethnic food as well! It¹s become a center to the community, one of the few authentic things in an otherwise boring suburb. Here¹s a link, take a look.
To Richard’s point, I completely agree. My purpose, in fact, was not to laud and honor the self-contained, inwardly focused shopping malls at all (which are so often just big boxes surrounded by acres of pavement). I thought the co-evolution of these malls with the now traditional multi-venue performing arts center was interesting, and worth a bit more focus.
The note that few such shopping malls are being constructed anymore is also an essential revelation (and one that fellow blogger James Russell suggested, as well, in a separate e-mail). Perhaps the bigger issue here is that the Lincoln Center model of cultural facilities is still being constructed all over the country, despite our broader understanding about social, city, and consumer dynamics.
Thanks for the notes and thoughts. Positive or negative, they are always appreciated.
