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| - When a development company came in and decided to revamp Hilldale, some in the neighborhood where I live were concerned. We have senior citizens that live in the immediate area and they were not at all happy that Hildale was going to be an open air mall, as many seniors got their walk in during the winter months sheltered from the elements at Hilldale. To reassure the nearby residents, a meeting was set up with the neighborhood association to calm fears about the renovations. Obviously, any objections the seniors at the meeting had were not taken seriously, since the developer went ahead & did it they way they planned it.
One point that was made in conjunction with the open areas of mall during the meeting was the wonderful outdoor common area, supplied with tables, chairs, and benches, where visitors to the mall could have smoothies and converse. I wouldn't have remembered that particular point if it had not been made over and over again.
Fast forward to half the mall being open to the outside. Yes, it has delightful seasonal decorations during the different holidays & yes, there are the aforementioned tables and benches. What the developer didn't mention was the speakers placed up high on the outsides of the stores that blares music very loudly all day and night. There is no sitting and conversing unless you want to shout at each other. It can give you a headache. It is strictly a place of business and the mall doesn't give a shit about fitting in with rest of the neighborhood. They want moneyed shoppers to visit their stores, eat in their restaurants and go home.
The rest of the charms of this mall are few and far between. Sure if you enjoy shopping at high-end chain stores, you will be very happy here. There is a Target, a pricey grocery store and now a AMC movie theater that took over from the Sundance Cinema.
Call me a burned out neighborhood resident if you like, but if I'm going to recommend a mall to an out-of-towner, I tell them to got the Greenway Station.
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