Malls Become Alls
By George Anderson
The mall many of us grew up with needs to reinvent itself and, according to Michael McCarty, president of the development firm, Simon Property Group, that means transforming
facilities from a collection of shops to lifestyle centers.
Mr. McCarty called the 750,000 square-foot, open-air facility in Georgetown, Tex his company was building an “all” not a “mall.”
In addition to a retail shopping center, with Target as an anchor store, the project, Wolf Ranch, will include 17 acres of parkland when construction is completed in the summer
of 2005.
Keith Hutchinson, a public information officer for the City of Georgetown, said this project was indeed different. “The developer is saving many of the large trees on the property,
and they’ve taken great pains to preserve the topography of the area.” The area will provide the community with space for special events such as theater and concerts.
Moderator’s Comment: Why are consumers not shopping at malls as they once did? Are these massive structures a thing of the past?
New urbanism is taking root across the country as many communities are determined to put an end to suburban sprawl. Shopping is moving back downtown or
at least being placed in areas that are made to resemble it. Mixed use development is going to be in for the foreseeable future. [George
Anderson – Moderator]