Issue link: http://townofcary.uberflip.com/i/791946
4. SHOP CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Changing Retail and Commercial Preferences Since its beginnings in the 1950s, North Hills Mall in Raleigh has evolved from a small strip shopping center, to the Southeast's first enclosed shopping mall, and is now a vibrant lifestyle center. Today, North Hills offers a mix of commercial shopping and dining des na ons, offices, housing units, and community event spaces, all within a walkable and engaging environment. 46 Consumer preferences have changed. Ultra-convenient online shopping and the growing demand for unique shopping and dining experiences have had an impact on the way commercial centers are now designed and the types of environments in which they are located. Just as emerging technologies and the post World War II prolifera on of the automobile created a shi in the loca on and design of commercial des na ons to suburban contexts, our na on is experiencing the next wave that is driven by consumer preferences for more walkable, mixed use, compact, and vibrant shopping des na ons. While there is s ll a limited market for tradi onal strip- commercial development, the growing trend across the na on is development of lifestyle centers that provide walkable urban environments convenient to home and work. These centers contain addi onal ameni es, such as outdoor entertainment venues, outdoor markets, and public art and gathering spaces. O en called "third places," these new commercial mixed use des na ons provide not only the opportunity to shop and dine in high quality establishments, they also provide the opportunity to gather and interact with other people outside of work and home. And na onal trends show a growing preference for actually living or working within mixed use environments, par cularly for young professionals and to some extent re rees. Due to these trends, retailers across the na on are expanding into urban markets and are o en shrinking the design of stores to be er fit these contexts. Niche shopping opportuni es, a rac ons, and service-oriented establishments are growing retail market segments; and many older suburban centers are evolving to provide this new shopping experience. North Hills Mall in 1984 North Hills Converted to a Lifestyle Center in 2010