Developers are reviving Maryland?s malls with downtown-like new urbanism, but Westminster?s economic development director calls his city “the real deal.”
“Malls are dying, so what?s the newest thing? The town-center approach, the phony downtowns,” said Stan Ruchlewicz, Westminster?s economic development administrator.
Ruchlewicz pointed to The Avenue at White Marsh, Hunt Valley and Bowie Town Center as shopping centers that subscribe to new urbanism ? where shoppers walkfrom store to store outside ? as a way to imitate traditional downtowns, like the central business districts found in Westminster and Ellicott City.
As Westminster tries to lure merchants from along highways and inside malls to fill the city?s vacant stores, Ruchlewicz emphasizes the cheaper rents and the eclectic mix of independently owned restaurants, music stores and book shops that create what he calls “an experience” richer than what the national chains offer.
Malls aren?t dying; they are just evolving, said Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association.
“The demise of malls has been overstated,” he said. “There aren?t as many malls being built in Maryland, or across the country. But malls are shifting from totally retail to open-air centers with restaurants, movie theaters, bowling and other recreation.”
Malls remain the most efficient way for retailers to sell and for consumers to shop, Saquella said, because of the stores? close proximity.
But shoppers are increasingly attracted to the “de-malled” lifestyle centers as a warmer, more inviting alternative to malls.
The malls that have died are the older ones built in the first suburbs that have since grown economically disadvantaged, said Richard Clinch, director of economic research at the University of Baltimore and a subcontractor with Carroll County?s Department of Planning.
Other malls, such as The Mall in Columbia, have survived, flourished and are expanding, not only because of the area?s growing population but also due to residents? mushrooming affluence.
“We can?t fulfill the calls we get with regard to the tenants who want to locate in Columbia,” said Douglas Godine, general manager at General Growth Properties Inc., which owns the land where the mall sits. About 200,000 square feet or more could be added, he said.
In the meantime, Westminster?s downtown remains “the poster child for revitalization,” Clinch said.
“Westminster has what new urbanism is trying to create.”
Examiner Staff Writer Sara Michael contributed to this story.
