Big difference between building 50 story apartment building on a mall and a few hundred homes. Yes parking is part of it but people who live elsewhere have unlimited options of where to go shopping. There is nothing inherently compelling about the retail in these mixed use developments except for convenience to residents of the complex. Business owners get oversold on the value of a small captive audience, pay way too much in rent and need to make some of that up with high pricing which hurts them in attracting outsiders. The parking is part of it but I think it is more of what I said. Ive seen this happen countless times.Look at San Elijo Hills and how the retail has struggled there even with thousands of homes. The staples including the gas station, Chase bank and supermarket do fine. The rest struggle.
Now adding residential to already successful big retail centers? That could work better IMO
