Jack Hagel reports on North HIlls HERE.

He writes, “Kane has negotiated right of first refusal—deal-speak for dibs—on 65 undeveloped acres east of the intersection.” That intersection is Six Forks and Interstate 440, the crossroads that defines North Hills. The above map aerial plan of the property John Kane is interested in buying from multiple property owners.

Obviously, I’m not a huge North Hills fan (or a fan of any other corporate suburban shopping center for that matter). But, Kane has made some better moves with North Hills, and I don’t mean Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V-ing the trend of the outdoor shopping mall model.

Adding a residential component is essential to beginning to create any sense of community. (Of course the entire mess was already completely engulfed by suburban residential spaghetti, but you still drive to get over to the mall.) If people cannot reside there (own or rent property), then the development remains purely a destination. It’s Mickey Mouse. Also, the expansion plans show significantly more open public space and subscribe to more dense buildings.

The exterior decorating of the expansion is for the most part the same kitschy postmodernist, though slightly simplified from what’s across the street… by just a hair, enough for a slight sigh of relief at this stage in the Kane game.

Then again, there’s this horrid-looking thing, which blindly reaffirms that we are, in fact, the time’s new Romans. And then we remember that the whole show really is the sad epitome of our sick consumerist zeitgeist. If I don’t like the mall, does that make me un-American? Hell no!

This untouched property in question has great potential—so wide open at this point—and will undoubtedly help define the character and identity of the area real estate agents are calling Midtown.

So, what could we do right in North Hills v3?

WWYD with this possible piece of future Kane real estate?