The point is to increase density in a sustainable way. Buildings malls is not sustainable because there is wasted space. All that indoor walking space could be outdoor parks.
In urban areas, you try to reduce wasted space by building stuff like underground parking. You put services along the sidewalk and close to residential so that people can just walk to these services.
You build residential and office buildings upwards since there is a shortage of space.
You make the neighbourhood more pleasant by putting in outdoor walking malls, green spaces, and building a sidewalk patio culture.
It doesn't make sense to split your downtown core into two. If half of your core is industrial/commercial and the other half is residential, suddenly you have to jump in your car and drive to the grocery store. This causes congestion.
On the other hand, a grocery store, Staples, a cold beer & wine store, an electronics store, a book store are all 2 blocks away. I just step out and walk there and it only takes 5 minutes to pick up that one thing I need at that exact moment.
You wouldn't believe how much less food I waste now that I buy that one fresh chicken breast for dinner and those two bananas I'm going to have tomorrow for breakfast and as a snack.
No, sorry, I meant like, having a mall that has apartments in it doesn't make sense in a city. I think the idea makes sense in general, but I'm just saying I don't think building a mall with apartments in it makes sense in a city like Toronto.
The point is to increase density in a sustainable way. Buildings malls is not sustainable because there is wasted space. All that indoor walking space could be outdoor parks.
In urban areas, you try to reduce wasted space by building stuff like underground parking. You put services along the sidewalk and close to residential so that people can just walk to these services.
You build residential and office buildings upwards since there is a shortage of space.
You make the neighbourhood more pleasant by putting in outdoor walking malls, green spaces, and building a sidewalk patio culture.
It doesn't make sense to split your downtown core into two. If half of your core is industrial/commercial and the other half is residential, suddenly you have to jump in your car and drive to the grocery store. This causes congestion.
On the other hand, a grocery store, Staples, a cold beer & wine store, an electronics store, a book store are all 2 blocks away. I just step out and walk there and it only takes 5 minutes to pick up that one thing I need at that exact moment.
You wouldn't believe how much less food I waste now that I buy that one fresh chicken breast for dinner and those two bananas I'm going to have tomorrow for breakfast and as a snack.