Imagine apartments built into what used to be department stores, (Oh, you’re JC Penny 203? I’m at Sears 106). Get those old arcades up and running. Set up meal stations at the food court. Once people actually live there, stores will start to move back in.
If I’m unable to finish my life in my own home, that doesn’t sound like a terrible option.
Have you considered that this is because most of space in USA is allocated only for cars? Or that if this space wasn’t allocated to cars, then you wouldn’t need to traverse such disyance in first place?
The solution: trains
Look I’m not arguing that we shouldn’t be putting in trains as much as possible but it’s not a solution to cars. Hell in Europe people still drive a good bit.
The solution is not living in the middle of anywhere, two hours away from civilization. If you lived next to the mall, you could go there by foot.
You know why houses in populated areas cost so much?
That’s why, everyone wanting to be right next to everything.
I live where I do because I don’t like crowds, and noise.