 |
Just up the street from my house sits the old Northgate shopping center. It's a rambling outdoor retail mall built during the Mad Men era, and 40 years ago, the place must have been spectacular.
From 1962 through the early 1990s, Northgate had three major anchors, 30+ specialty stores, a movie theater, a two-story bank, several bars & restaurants, a huge private hardware store with multiple floors, and a free-standing ice cream barn open during summer. Judging from the parking lots - two in front and five in back - the mall was the epitome of modern suburban shopping.
From 1962 through the early 1990s, Northgate had three major anchors, 30+ specialty stores, a movie theater, a two-story bank, several bars & restaurants, a huge private hardware store with multiple floors, and a free-standing ice cream barn open during summer. Judging from the parking lots - two in front and five in back - the mall was the epitome of modern suburban shopping.
Today's Northgate plaza is almost a ruin. Two of its anchors have closed completely, and the one that remains is on its third tenant. The bank's drive-through windows are broken, and the few occupied specialty stores include a pawn shop, liquor store, tobacco shop, nail salon, a Family Dollar, and an Army recruiting center. The last two restaurants are low-end Chinese, and one (a buffet) actually caught fire last year. The theater's roof is collapsing. Weeds reclaim the back parking lots every spring. The ice cream barn is somehow still standing, but the rotting structure is clearly unfit for occupancy -
"50" is the new "30" my ASS.
It always pisses me off when malls like Northgate fall into disrepair. To me, these places are history, and I envision their modern potential. If I had the bucks, I'd revamp the entire complex - using the present strip malls of Sun City, AZ (built in 1960) as inspiration.
"50" is the new "30" my ASS.
It always pisses me off when malls like Northgate fall into disrepair. To me, these places are history, and I envision their modern potential. If I had the bucks, I'd revamp the entire complex - using the present strip malls of Sun City, AZ (built in 1960) as inspiration.
Let me explain:
Sun City's original strip malls are also obsolete, but they've all been reimagined as clean, kitschy, well-merchandised thrift stores that attract shoppers from throughout the Phoenix area. Northgate has a nice thrift store now (in one of the old anchors), but its specialty is furniture - which means there are opportunities for other/different "specialized" thrift stores (including high-end). Ultimately, all businesses are welcome - provided they maintain a cleanliness curb-appeal. No dirty windows. No cluttered sidewalks.
On the backside of Northgate, I'd encourage businesses that directly benefit the community - like a BIG Laundromat (with Cable TV, steam-iron tables, and a kids playground), a Hispanic Bookstore/Newsstand, a place for teens to go at night (like a hip community center with realistic activities), and of course, a great local hair/nail salon. An Internet cafe is a must. I'd also like to see a comic shop with game nights.
Sun City's original strip malls are also obsolete, but they've all been reimagined as clean, kitschy, well-merchandised thrift stores that attract shoppers from throughout the Phoenix area. Northgate has a nice thrift store now (in one of the old anchors), but its specialty is furniture - which means there are opportunities for other/different "specialized" thrift stores (including high-end). Ultimately, all businesses are welcome - provided they maintain a cleanliness curb-appeal. No dirty windows. No cluttered sidewalks.
On the backside of Northgate, I'd encourage businesses that directly benefit the community - like a BIG Laundromat (with Cable TV, steam-iron tables, and a kids playground), a Hispanic Bookstore/Newsstand, a place for teens to go at night (like a hip community center with realistic activities), and of course, a great local hair/nail salon. An Internet cafe is a must. I'd also like to see a comic shop with game nights.
Finally, in order for this to work, the New Northgate plaza needs a nice, neighborhood, Cheers-y gay bar. This city is full of gay people (just look at the BNSF Metra on Pride day), and there is absolutely no reason for Aurora's continuing homophobia. I suggest the pub be located at the back of the mall, within the old theater - the icing on the cake for a restored/revitalized, and totally retro-modern Northgate. Gays love shit like this, and if done correctly, Northgate could be a Mecca for the gay community throughout the entire western suburbs - and that's an investment in Aurora that would never stop paying off.
If you build it, the gays will come with their credit cards.
If you build it, the gays will come with their credit cards.