Empty DeSoto Square mall could be great site for a school. Just sayin’...

While strolling through the cavernous and almost empty space of DeSoto Square mall the other day, I thought, “Wow, wouldn’t this make a great school?” It’s practically all set up.

The food court becomes the cafeteria, the big anchor stores become offices, a gym, a science lab...endless possibilities. And all those storefronts become classrooms; you’d hardly have to change a thing.

Then there is that huge parking lot. Plenty of room for a sports field or two.

But alas, it is a utopian dream, I suppose. Never mind zoning and districts and somebody somewhere will not make any money from the deal. It would require cooperation and imagination and participation from too many arenas. Sigh.

But it did make for a pleasant half-hour, picturing what could be. The art program students could paint murals on all those outside walls! I just thought of that one! But right now it’s just one more behemoth beached on acres of asphalt, and there are thousands of them across the country.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Empty DeSoto Square mall could be great site for a school. Just sayin’...."