Molson Hart

I’m skeptical that abandoned malls can be converted into fulfillment centers; 1. Not enough loading docks 2. Ceiling height not right 3. Big efficiency gains from custom build plans 4. New warehouse construction is cheap 5. Amazon tore down this mall to build a FC from scratch https://twitter.com/JasonSzegedi/status/1211268042962980865 …

I wonder if co-living makes sense in them... Though most are likely just functionally obsolete and should be torn down.

The people who want to co-live want to in a vibrant walkable area. Malls are usually an island of windowless concrete in the middle of an ocean of asphalt. On the other hand, abandoned factories are often beautiful, have windows, and are in good locations, hence their conversion.

True. Sometimes the best “preservation” is just tearing it down and starting over, it seems.

Yeah, sadly. Maybe some can be saved by filling them with retail operations not being disrupted by e-commerce. Church, grocery, or gym anchor tenant with hair salons, insurance brokers, etc inside. It doesn’t feel right though. Malls are designed for hardwood shopping, not this.

70s/80s malls have no windows and big, cavernous hallways. Hard to envision uses that want that.

The funny thing is that not even what’s left of brick and mortar durable good retail wants that.