We see charging stations as an emerging trend around the country. The number of electric vehicles purchased to date is relatively small—around a quarter million—but rates have doubled year-over-year. There's no way to know how that trend will continue, but we believe there is strong enough interest in the program and those vehicles. We want to be at the forefront of it so that when it does begin to accelerate, we're positioned with a network in place to provide customers with a place to charge those vehicles.”

Second, we want to provide in every regard a best-in-class experience for our customers, to provide every type of amenity service that makes sense for our customers to enhance their shopping experience with us. The vehicle-charging stations are an important amenity that we want to make available to our customers.

GlobeSt.com: What is the next evolution of service in retail centers?

Hanson: I think it could be any number of things. My area of focus is in our sustainability programs, but as a general rule we are trying to be cognizant of things our customers look for when they come to our malls, and we are constantly seeking input from them via social media or other contacts they have with our shopping centers. We want to understand what kinds of things they do want and what drives them to the malls in the first place. We stay on top of it and try to be very well aware of that, and if something is developing as a trend or frequently requested service, we see if we can provide that for them.

GlobeSt.com: Are customers concerned about sustainability in their shopping centers? Is this a trend?

Hanson: I don't know if I would call sustainability a trend, but we recognize our responsibility to our customers and the community at large to provide environments in our shopping centers that are in keeping with good sustainability practices, such as the way in which we manage our energy consumption and how we go about doing things that maximizes our ability to limit greenhouse-gas production and create a green environment in our malls. We view it as a fundamental responsibility and part of being a good corporate citizen to have sound sustainability practices, and by doing that, I think we certainly will satisfy customers who expect us and anyone in a commercial setting to be very conscious of sustainability. If we do things well in that regard, our customers will recognize it and let us know they appreciate the fact that we're doing it.