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  • Essay / Evolution of Shopping Centers: Social and Civic...

    In the early 19th century and early 20th century, one of the ideas was to create shopping centers and parks. The nature of the die-cut stores in the downtown department stores was to simply have individual stores in different locations, but were not integrated into one location. An example of this is Baltimore's Inner Harbor, which was on a street filled with shopping centers and restaurants. Today, shopping malls have completely changed, including a large, sprawling building filled with branded stores and restaurants. Shopping centers were created not only to sell goods, but also to contribute to the social and civic life of cities and suburbs. Steps were opened at that time, in the book “Civitas By Design”. Development is about making cities bigger and making things easier for residents. Another way malls and parks help cities and suburbs is by integrating residents. To demonstrate this, Gillette explains: “In particular, it borrowed its efforts to integrate residential development with environmental amenities by equipping its center with features previously reserved for the largest and most dominant downtown department stores. These included artwork, small parks, benches and fountains, and a variety of community activities, from an annual Spanish fiesta to free bridge lessons, dog shows and a fair outdoor art. (page 78). All these activities make shopping centers greatly contribute to the integration of residents with each other. Gillette talks about a 1955 Journal of Retailing and points out "a thoroughly practical concept...which embraces the idea that such development can also act as a civic, cultural and social gallop." One of the activities organized by the mall is the Spanish Party, where residents can experience Spanish culture, socialize, enjoy and feel comfortable. This activity can help the