Southern Park Mall redevelopment moves forward
.jpg "Construction continues on DeBartolo Commons as work crews install piping near the main entrance off of Market St
The Mahoning County Commissioners at their regular board meeting held in the Boardman Twp Community Room Thursday morning to approve the 15-year, 100 percent tax abatement sought by Washington Prime Group for a $30 million project.`at the Southern Park Mall")
BOARDMAN — Since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Northeast Ohio, there hasn't been much news regarding the $30 million renovation of the Southern Park Mall.
Permit applications filed at the Mahoning County Building Inspection Office, reveal, however, the project appears to be moving forward.
Southern Park Mall has filed 27 building permit applications since September 2019. The cost estimates of the permit applications total more than $10 million.
While most reflect upgrades to things like the HVAC system, the permits also reveal two presumptive new tenants: Planet Fitness and a U.S.Navy recruitment center.
The projects with the biggest price tags are the demolition of the area near Spencer's, estimated to cost $5,543,217; the demolition of four tenant spaces, estimated to cost $4,005,778; and the renovation of the food court and its corresponding entrance, estimated to cost $1,034,350.
The project is currently outside the purview of Boardman Township, administrator Jason Loree said.
"They had their original site reviewed and approved," said Loree. "So really it just comes down to their construction permits and things they would normally get from Mahoning County Building."
Mahoning Matters reached out to mall owner Washington Prime Group regarding these permits, but the company did not comment.
"We haven't been contacted by the mall regarding their project on any indication whether they'd be held up or are full steam ahead," said Loree.
Prior to the pandemic, Washington Prime Group was lobbying to local redevelopment tools that would allow the company to recoup $6 million of the $30 million redevelopment project.
On Dec. 30, Boardman trustees voted to designate the project a Community Entertainment District.
The CED would provide the mall with five liquor licenses without requiring incoming restaurants to acquire them through traditional means. Unlike other means of acquiring a liquor license, liquor licenses acquired through the CED cannot be transferred, sold or used outside the CED designation.
On March 27, Mahoning County Commissioners approved a tax abatement for Southern Park Mall.
The Community Reinvestment Area agreement will exempt mall owner Washington Prime Group from having to pay property taxes on the assessed value of new structures at the site for 15 years.
County Commissioners accepted Washington Prime Group's CRA application at a meeting Jan.16. Boardman school board approved the agreement Dec. 16.
WPG is also requesting the creation of a Joint Economic Development District, which would allow Boardman and another community to levy an income tax on new employees of the mall.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 4:21 AM with the headline "Southern Park Mall redevelopment moves forward."