Well my original reply was simply against the malls in Southern California. As for the malls in the Bay Area, I really only have a problem with the Westfield mall in downtown SF (powell station). The problem with this mall is that it is designed to confuse the patron and not let people out easily. I'm much more confortable with the embarcadero mall (although it should be two stories instead of three).
As for the East Bay, the shopping complex in Emeryville is quite horrible, especially for people traveling on foot. However, I really cannot complain about the effect on of the shopping complex in Emeryville on the area, since the area was already ruined by the highways. I didn't find the Hilltop mall to be that bad, although it is obviosuly struggling and not original in design.
This is sort of the definition I've always used:transf. and fig. A quarter in a city, esp. a thickly populated slum area, inhabited by a minority group or groups, usu. as a result of economic or social pressures; an area, etc., occupied by an isolated group; an isolated or segregated group, community, or area. -OED