America is full of #AbandonedMalls. What if we turned them into #housing?

Converting #malls could create hundreds of thousands of badly needed homes.

by Rachel M. Cohen
Updated Apr 10, 2024, 9:30 AM EDT

"Amy Casciani, a longtime real estate developer whose corporation built housing across seven states, watched her local community struggle for years to add new homes.

"Casciani grew up in upstate #New ork, in a suburban town outside Rochester. She eventually started a family and raised her children there, and in the early 1990s, a new mall opened up, bringing over 100 new stores including anchor retailers like Sibley’s, J.C. Penney, and Sears.

"The mall was a proud boon to the town of Irondequoit, and a go-to spot for teenagers to hang out. 'Hands down the most attractive shopping mall in the area,' an editorial for a newspaper serving Albany declared. 'From its blue Legolike entrances and splashing fountain to its light-trimmed glass roof, columns and carousel, the mall exudes carnival gaiety.'

"But in a few short years, retail patterns across the United States began to change. Mall foot traffic slowed and online shopping ticked up. Stores in the Irondequoit Mall began to close, and by 2016, the last major anchor, Sears, called it quits.

"Casciani ached for her town, which not only was dealing with the eyesore of the abandoned mall but also lacked enough vacant land to develop desperately needed affordable housing. Her nonprofit development group, PathStone, embarked on a complex but meaningful project: They retrofitted the Sears department store into 73 rental apartments and built a new four-story multifamily building with 84 rental units on the adjacent parking lot.

"#PathStone connected the two buildings by a raised pedestrian walkway, and the #SkyviewParkApartments now serves adults 55 and up who need subsidized housing. Half of the units are reserved for seniors at risk of #homelessness, who can receive on-site supportive services."

Read more:
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/24075581/housing-conversions-stripmalls-affordable-supply

#MoreHousingLessMalls #NewYorkState #AffordableHousing

More of this, please...! Though we need more AFFORDABLE HOUSING, not just "Market Rate".

Old #ShoppingPlazas could see new life as #housing in #Maine

With #VacantStorefronts becoming a common sight, municipalities are exploring redevelopment to meet growing housing needs.

Caroline LeCour
November 7, 2024

AUGUSTA, Maine — "On the hunt to create more housing stock in Maine, more municipalities are eyeing vacant retail #ShoppingMalls as the solution.

"After the former #KMart at the #AugustaPlaza closed its doors, many city leaders eyed the location for its potential.

"'The redevelopment of the K-Mart plaza has been a priority for the city and city council for over four years now,' Augusta Director of Economic Development Keith Luke said.

"Now, a new proposal is looking to re-develop the space into a hotel, retail space, and 60 market-rate apartments. Its something Luke says is needed in the city.

"'These are bringing quality market rate units to the city because we have a need in central Maine for housing at every level,' he said, 'It's hard not to envision it will be tremendously successful.'

"A similar proposal was approved in #KitteryMaine earlier this year, to re-develop the location of former outlet stores, partially into more than 100 apartments.

"To encourage this interest coming from municipalities, Republican Representative Richard Campbell introduced legislation last year to equip towns and cities when looking to re-zone from commercial to residential; something that can at times pose a challenge.

"'Most of the local zoning, residential is not allowed in those commercial zones,' Campbell said. 'What this does is encourages the towns to consider residential in the commercial, especially in the big box, mall zones.'

"Augusta's city council members are set to take up contract zoning requests for the Augusta Plaza proposal next week. City leaders hope to start construction next spring."

Read more:
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/housing/old-shopping-plazas-could-see-new-life-housing-maine-augusta/97-c5f151c3-4513-4cd4-83ec-97207d416ea2

#MoreHousingLessMalls #AffordableHousing #MaineHousing #AugustaMaine