In California’s suburbs, several plans are in the works to turn near-vacant shopping malls into new mixed-use housing developments.
The Los Angeles Times reports that vacant mall areas present a unique possibility for builders in areas that otherwise lack undeveloped land. New housing developments will also help ease housing demand in the state, which has currently pushed about 30 percent of urban renters to pay more than half their income on housing.
Mixed-use developments can add value to neighborhoods by bringing restaurants, stores, and entertainment centers in addition to housing. But they can also receive push-back from locals who worry about increased traffic associated with a rising population.
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