Mahoning County Commissioners approve tax abatement for Southern Park Mall

BOARDMAN — Mahoning County commissioners approved Washington Prime Group's request for a tax abatement for the redevelopment of Southern Park Mall today (Jan. 16).

The Community Reinvestment Area agreement, which was approved by the Boardman Local School Board in December, exempts mall owner Washington Prime Group from having to pay property taxes on the assessed value of new structures at the site for 15 years.

"I'm not some fancy person that's speaking from some ivory tower," WPG CEO Lou Conforti said at the Thursday morning meeting. "If we don't revitalize or invigorate Boardman or places like Boardman, we're screwed as a country."

During the meeting, residents and political leaders described the importance of the mall to the community, dating back to its opening in 1970.

"I love the vision," said Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti. "This is something that's going to bring families back to the Mahoning Valley."

Previous meetings about the incentives requested by mall owner Washington Prime Group have incited the anger of residents concerned that taxpayers would bear the burden of the redevelopment project.

The CRA agreement is just one economic development tool mall owner Washington Prime Group intends to use. 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 transfered, sold or used outside the CED designation.

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.

Through these measures, WPG intends to recoup about $6 million of the $30 million redevelopment project.

This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Mahoning County Commissioners approve tax abatement for Southern Park Mall."