Mar25
Chinatowns vs Asian-themed malls? What’s the difference?
The following is part of a series of entries dedicated to issues related to ethnic retailing in larger Canadian cities. The prelude entry can be found here.
Well, from a planner's perspective, there's surely a wealth of difference between Chinatowns and Asian-themed malls.
At the same time, I get a sense that people are generally more accepting of traditional “Chinatowns” than Asian-themed malls. Why is that the case? What is it about these ethnic malls that make them offensive? Aren’t malls just the late 20th Century automobile adaptations of the main street concept?
I suppose the biggest differentiation is that urban core cultural communities (e.g. Chinatown) are visibly more cohesive to the surrounding urban fabric than shopping centres. Core urban areas accommodate mixed range of land uses, while suburban developments have always strictly delineated homogenous land uses. Because of this, I get a sense that concentrations of suburban ethnic retailing are perceived to be much more concentrated than their urban counterparts even if its "ethnic density" (e.g. "ethnic retail jobs" or "ethnic patron" per unit area) may be similar. I attribute this theory to a suburban mall's lack of “buffer” non-retail uses.
A brief browse of contemporary urban planning research will tell you that traditional suburban developments have always notoriously and systemically promoted socio-economic and cultural segregation. So in many ways, could the prevalence of Asian-themed malls be a “tipping point” indicator against our current homogeneous suburban development patterns? Maybe the people’s problems aren’t ethnic malls, but they have finally realized the demise of our current state of suburbanization?
Solution
If my above theory is correct, the answer is clearly to create complete and mixed use communities. I would gladly vouch my support and rise to the challenge to make it happen! Creating complete and mixed use communities will surely align today's municipalities with its objective to lower the degree of socio-economic and the perceived cultural segregation in its communities.
Articles in the series
Comments (3)
1
tiff
I agree re the real problem is people's hatred towards suburbs.
But I also have to say this: I LOVE my suburbs. They're my escape from the city. I feel guilty sometimes because I know I'm supposed to hate suburbs for their lack of transit and sprawls, but I've since grown to live with them and even embrace it. My life consists of school and work in the circle, and with all my other hobbies supported by suburban lifestyle.
My cake decorating class takes place at at Michaels, which have no locations in the city core.
And you really can't go for a good long run (20k+) in the city anymore - way too many traffic lights and bikes that don't care about runners. The other day, I ran to Richmond Hill to Hwy 7 and it was such a nice scene.
In my North York suburban home, I can grow different types of vegetables enough to have a fresh salad every other day in the summer. I have a huge 100+year old silver maple tree in my backyard that shades my house. I don't know if I would be totally happy moving into the city.
2
Sanousake
You need to publish more posts as this one is almost a month old.
Sanousake!
3
Alph
I disagree.
I do feel it is a pity to lose the German themed shopping experience in Market Village, but that is the past, and nothing can be done about it now. I really adore European culture and society.
But, as a mixed-asian, I feel Asian-themed malls are fine.
I do feel that Asians are kind of "invading" Canada, and I do feel a bit threatened due to the large influx of people and the impact it may have on my career prospects. At the same time, and with what I've said also, I feel that there is nothing wrong with Asian-themed malls.
If one doesn't like such malls, then don't go to them. But don't cause their demise and try to ruin their business. There are a lot of stuff that I like to buy in Asian-themed malls. Other Asian-themed malls that I sometimes visit is First Markham Place and Times Square.
Leave the Asian-themed malls alone. Some people have a hard time adjusting to life in Canada, and these malls help provide a place for people having difficulty assimulating into rest of Canadian society.
I have never fully assimulated in Canadian society and I still hold true to my Asian identity. I identify myself as Asian first before anything else. Therefore, these malls are my escape from rest of Canada. I will also never fully adopt "Canadian" culture into my lifestyle.
You can't change people, and forcing these malls to close down is not ethical. As long as these malls are not committing any crime and are doing their business fair and square, then there is nothing wrong.
On the other hand, if this was an issue about segration in school, then that's another thing. But no, this is about shopping malls. So I don't see any problem. Nobody is promoting hatred and discrimination in these malls.
I came upon your website after clicking on the link Evolution of Steeles and Kenney from the Market Village article in wikipedia.org. I came upon the wiki article when I tried to search for "Chinese resaler toronto" in google.ca.
After reading this article, I thought I share my viewpoint.
My motto for people living in Canada: pay your taxes and cause less comotions. There are other more serious problems in the world.
