Can anyone suggest any more detailed treatments? Perhaps investor material for a company seeking to do this?

In the past, I was enamored with the idea of buying a dead mall, transforming much of it into apartments, and adding some amenities in the common spaces - including a restaurant, pool etc. sort of like a Vegas hotel but in a more community oriented style.

During covid, I became somewhat wealthy due to some investments and tried to actually make the moves and discovered the hell of zoning laws, poor construction quality etc. and discovered construction workers charge 10x the price in the US as in Europe, even though they use cheaper materials (e.g. 2x2 frames with drywall instead of bricks and plywood.) Then a bubble popped and I ended up as I was before.