Mainstream media is now reporting cheerfully on the notion of building higher density cities on top of suburban malls and other underused lands.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1904187,00.html
I find the article rather frustrating, though, because it is little more than a concept story. There is not enough on who proposed the retrofit of suburbia, competing proposals, and / or the prospects of anything actually being done in this case.
I recently got a book called ‘Retrofitting the Suburbs: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs.” It has a number of interesting case studies of attempts to redevelop old malls etc, looking at issues of public/private space, municipal support, parking, financing etc. It’s practical and has some good examples and pictures. I found it at the Rideau Street chapters.