Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Blue Lakes Mall

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The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. Secret account 02:01, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Blue Lakes Mall

Blue Lakes Mall (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs) – (View log)

This article was proded but removed by author. The article reflects no notability. There are no reliable sources to verify notability. The mall no longer exists. JodyB talk 22:47, 31 December 2007 (UTC)

The mall indeed no longer exists, but at one time it was an important commerical center in Twin Falls, Idaho and the larger Magic Valley region - particuarly in the 1970s and early 1980s - and therefore historically noteworthy in the area. Because the mall's demise largely precedes the Internet as we know it, online information to this effect is admittedly scarce, and it would most likely require citations from sources such as local newspaper archives. However, while it needs work, I do believe it merits a stub presence. Even so, it is noted by third party sources as a "cultural feature" (Link) and a landmark (Link), even though this information is somewhat outdated.
Also, note the established category "Defunct shopping malls in the United States" at present contains 72 articles, so an article such as this is not an isolated occurrence by any means. --Faustus37 (talk) 23:08, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
  • Comment I don't know whether this mall satisfies our notability standards such as WP:ORG but the comment that it no longer exists implies that notability is temporary, which is not in accord with the policy on notability WP:N. We do not delete articles on buildings, organizations, people, or other entities because they no longer exist, if they were ever notable. Edison (talk) 23:18, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
  • Comment I assure you there are plenty of references in secondary sources such as back issues of The Times-News et al. If these sources went back further online, they would already be cited. A visit to the library here should put any WP:ORG concerns to rest. While not nationally noteworthy, the Blue Lakes Mall was a big deal in southern Idaho in its day; anyone over 30 who lived here for any amount of time would remember it well. --Faustus37 (talk) 23:31, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
  • Note: This debate has been included in the list of Malls-related deletion discussions. -- Ten Pound Hammer and his otters • (Broken clamshells•Otter chirps) 00:12, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Delete per lack of reliable sources. A Google News search turns up only three articles, all of which only mention the mall in passing, and main Google hits are incredibly sparse. Neither source provided by Faustus37 (talk · contribs) seems reliable either. All malls were notable to their regions at some point or another, and many malls have been torn down for big box stores -- therefore, I see nothing that makes this one notable. Ten Pound Hammer and his otters • (Broken clamshells•Otter chirps) 00:23, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Delete non-notable mall, no reliable sources. --Caldorwards4 (talk) 00:25, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Comment As mentioned, the sources are scarce on the Internet due to its age. This is an old-school library research project. Google is not the final arbiter of importance. --Faustus37 (talk) 15:17, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Keep per notability and existence of reliable sources. Best, --Le Grand Roi des CitrouillesTally-ho! 08:56, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Delete. The whole mall was demolished to make way for... one store? Probably not notable. --Blanchardb-Me•MyEars•MyMouth-timed 17:35, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Comment Fred Meyer is the anchor although it's not a formal shopping center. There are several other smaller shops on the former Blue Lakes Mall property. We're talking an absolute bare minimum of 250,000 square feet here. Definitely noteworthy in a city of 40,000 --Faustus37 (talk) 15:17, 2 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Comment: that a mall was demolished to make way for one store is not so outrageous, given the shift in retail scale that has occurred over the past 50 years...how about when entire neighborhoods are demolished for a skyscraper/office complex (as in NYC) or for a sports venue (as in London)? Does this automatically make the destroyed neighborhood non-notable?--starfarmer (talk) 21:44, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Keep per notability and existence of reliable sources. Records of this sort are important for historical understanding of other sources.--starfarmer (talk) 21:44, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Delete as just another run of the mill small mall. At best, merge anything of note into the city article. Fails WP:V. WP:RS and WP:CORP. Vegaswikian (talk) 08:41, 3 January 2008 (UTC)


The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.