Imagine apartments built into what used to be department stores, (Oh, you’re JC Penny 203? I’m at Sears 106). Get those old arcades up and running. Set up meal stations at the food court. Once people actually live there, stores will start to move back in.
If I’m unable to finish my life in my own home, that doesn’t sound like a terrible option.
This was my thought, retirement being placed out of reach is kind of a defining characteristic of the Millenial generation. We had to start building tiny houses and subsistence gardening lol.