[kenhwang]

Point is, they wouldn't design them that way if it didn't work or if people didn't like them. Retail works best when it's convenient. Classic American malls were not.

Cities are designed too. Why don't we design them to be desirable places to be?

[devnulloverflow]

Because in America these things are designed by zoning and the political process. What you describe in Japan sounds like the Horrors of Captialism and can't possibly be allowed in America.

(Except I suppose it does happen, since the whole point of the article is that NYC does it).