When large-scale shopping malls were being developed, they were built in places with easy transportation access, near densely populated areas to create a built-in customer base.Online shopping, food delivery and other consumer habit changes have rendered many of the traditional indoor malls to be functionally obsolete, but their strategic locations have made those sites attractive for new types of development. Phoenix’s booming and low retail vacancy continue to drive the need for more stores and restaurants, but they will look very different than the bygone enclosed power center mall.Here is a look at some former and existing malls in the Valley, and what is next for them.Los Arcos, an early mall redevelopment, became SkySongLos Arcos, which was once floated as a potential landing spot for the Arizona Coyotes, has become SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. SkySong was developed primarily as an office development, also featuring apartments, a hotel and retail and restaurant space. Construction began in 2006, and the first buildings opened in 2008. The site is mostly built out but does have some remaining land for development.Park Central reused for offices, parking lot makes way for medical schoolThe redevelopment of Park Central reused and converted large department stores into office spaces and other uses. Instead of razing the whole site, developers stripped down the layers of paint and stucco on the walls to expose ductwork. They removed parts of the walls to add roll-up garage doors to make offices with indoor and outdoor workspace. Creighton University’s Health Sciences campus was built on the surface parking lot of the mall, along with an apartment complex, a hotel and additional retail pads.Metrocenter to become an urban villageMetrocenter Mall, now called the Metropolitan, began demolition of the buildings in November, and now the site is being cleared for new construction. The site will be redeveloped as a heavily residential project, which will mos …
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