Charlestowne Mall, or What's Left of It

The Charlestowne Mall, circa 2013

I just had one of the creepiest experiences as a Postgrad in Suburbia.  As I was taking a phone call, I ended up turning east onto Route 64.  As the road was under construction, my choices were quite limited regarding getting back downtown; and I decided to turn around at a location that at one point was a booming hangout for local teens: The Charlestowne Mall.  The last time I visited this location, I was roughly 16 and went there with a few friends to hang out in the food court and shop for various items.  Packed with people, I thought that nothing could happen to it, and it was much cooler than Westfield Fox Valley or the Geneva Commons.

Seven years later, things have certainly changed.  Currently home to 18 stores, many of which are not open on weekdays; the Charlestowne Mall is apparently a prime victim of the times.  As I walked through the gated venues, I wondered about what happened.  Understood the location did not really have a competitive edge for foot traffic, or anything besides Von Maur to differentiate it from any other location; but really, 18 stores?

But my real question, what can be done with the Charlestowne Mall?  A few things will open, a Sushi Buffet (cannibalizing the other sushi shop), an ice rink, and probably a few things open for Christmas season; but where will that take them? 

I've heard the city wants to create Section-8 housing at the location, Tear certain parts of it down to add an outdoor/outlet mall style vibe, build a University Extension with dorms and classrooms, or even tearing it down to create a Downtown Naperville style Riverwalk with stores.  A full PDF of what some residents want to do with the Charlestowne Mall can be found here.

Many of those ideas are great for the right people, but who would I be to admit they are right?  I like many of their ideas, especially trying to rebrand it through addition of niche restaurants and stores not available to the current market; but that will get them so far.  I also like the idea of adding a Gameworks, but why not take it even farther?

There is already a theater, a mini-golf location, a proposed ice rink, and the proposed Sushi Buffet; but all of those are on the lower level.  What can they do with the upper level? Why not make a location similar to an indoor French Quarter or Beale Street, in which the area is closed off; open containers are allowed, and walkways or shuttles to local hotels are provided?  Each bar would have a theme, and different venues would have different types of entertainment.

Or as a short-term plan, why not turn it into a haunted house?  The mall is so vast and already eerie. They could create a society similar to Fallout.  Open "shops" that have absolutely nothing left, and people to jump out and scare people.  It would be like Detroit, but without the travel or murder.

What are your ideas for the future of the Charlestowne Mall?