Posted on 06/23/2023 9:22:18 AM PDT by Morgana
San Francisco Mayor London Breed floated the idea of demolishing the abandoned Westfield mall as a solution to the city's untamed drug and crime epidemic.
Speaking at Bloomberg's Technology Summit in California, Breed brushed off questions about the mall's demise and argued 'there are a lot of people who may not even shop in those places' due to the rise of online shopping.
The city has seen a mass exodus of companies as a result of rampant crime in the city, with Westfield the latest to flee after it announced it has been forced to stop making mortgage payments due to the loss of business.
But Breed took on an optimistic tone as she said the struggling city's abandoned streets could be a silver lining for other businesses.
'You can convert spaces,' she said. 'A Westfield mall could become, you know, something completely different than what it currently is... we could even tear down the whole building and build a whole new soccer stadium.'
San Francisco's Westfield mall stands as the prime example of the city's dramatic fall from grace, where the once-bustling hub is now a drug-infested wasteland.
In 2016, the property was appraised at $1.2 billion, but a stark decline saw the mall hit with years of looting, soft policing and open-air drug taking.
The mall's anchor tenant, Nordstrom, announced it is leaving the location in August. At the time, Westfield blamed 'unsafe conditions' and a 'lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity' for the departure.
Once Nordstrom leaves the mall, it will be just 55 percent leased.
With the mall now a shell of its former self, Breed was asked how she planned to reverse course and save the dying property.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
A. People were shopping there until the crime got too bad
and
B. No one will go to a soccer game with crime up and getting worse.
That is correct.
The house is on fire and she’s calling it “remodeling”.
What sport?
“Stupid is as stupid does...”
The Detroit Red Wings learned that firsthand with Olympia Stadium and later the Joe Louis arena--fans don't want to risk their lives going to a hockey game.
If you read between the lines...she knows as a store-front...it won’t work. She also knows as ultra-expensive condos...it won’t work. It has to be torn down because it’s going to be a magnet for break-in’s and graffiti.
I would imagine at least an hour out of her day...this topic comes up and she has no real answer to give.
The closing of the Hilton is much more ominous for them. That was the center of the convention business - it’s a massive hotel. It has to be devestating to the tourist business.
Idiots couldn't come up with alternative. Morons might actually be able to come up with something on the fringes between realistic and fantasy land.
Lol, “people shop online.” They also watch sports on TV, at home.
Great idea!
Who doesn’t want to attend a sports event in the crime-ridden downtown area? Isn’t that part of the adrenaline rush?
[How long before the $billion complex is empty — because of the area being crime-ridden?]
Leftists never look at the disastrous consequences of their actions/decisions.
It appears that the mall is privately owned and financed. That’s a neat trick of stealing private property. So da mayor comes up with the old Roman plan of bread & circus…….
Convert to a Shooting Gallery and New Weapons Testing Center .... (with live Targets).
“The Detroit Red Wings learned that firsthand with Olympia Stadium and later the Joe Louis arena—fans don’t want to risk their lives going to a hockey game.”
Same with FedEx Arena in Memphis. They tore down the “black” end of Beale Street to build it which concentrated um…”celebrants” into the tourist area.
About a week ago an ABC reporter was warned not to go near Westfield mall as it was too dangerous. I struggle to understand how going to a soccer stadium would be any safer.
Crap for brains.
Whole Foods is one of the stores that closed in downtown SF.
Whole Foods EQUALS Amazon. Even if people shop for groceries online, Whole Foods should thrive as Amazon is the big dog.
“Amazon Go” also closed.
Perfect!
Pickleball?
-PJ
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