How to save a dying mall: Start by buying it on the cheap

New York

THE Hudson Valley Mall, nestled on a picturesque hilltop in Kingston, New York, looks like a pleasant place to spend an afternoon - from the outside. Inside, it just feels empty.

Until recently, the 765,000 square foot structure was best known for its infamous past as the scene of a Columbine-inspired shooting in 2005, when a local gunman fired off 60 rounds from an assault rifle.