Evolution of Shopping Centers: Social and Civic Implications

In the early 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, one of the ideas was to create shopping mall and parks. The nature of chopping stores in downtown department stores were just having individual stores in different places but were not integrated in just one place.

An example of this is Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, which was in the street full with shopping centers and restaurants. Now shopping centers have change completely such as having a big and wide building fulfill of brand stores and restaurants.

The malls were created not just to be able to sell merchandise but also to be able to help the social and civic life of the cities and suburbs. There were paces that were opened during this time, in the book “Civitas By Design”

The development is by making towns bigger of residents and facilitating things much easier to residents. Another way on how the shopping centers and parks are helping the cities and suburbs is by integrating the residents. To demonstrate, Gillette explains, “In particular, he borrowed its effort to integrate residential development with environmental amenities by lavishing his center with features previously reserved for the biggest and most dominant of the downtown department stores. These included art objects, small parks, benches and fountains, and a variety of community activities, from an annual Spanish fiesta to free bridge lessons, dog shows, and outdoor art fair.” (pg.78). All of those activities are how shopping centers are a big help for integrating the residents with each other. Gillette talks about a 1955 Journal of Retailing and emphasized, “a thoroughly practical concept… which embraces the idea that such a development can also act as a civic, cultural, and social canter.” This is one of the activities that the mall makes it happened is the Spanish fiesta, which residents can meet the Spanish culture, socialize, enjoy, and can feel comfortable being around. This activity can help the