Mall Owner to Demolish Sears Space, Detail Plans Sept. 7

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Washington Prime Group will detail plans for the Southern Park Mall at a Sept. 7 event during which the former Sears space will be demolished. 

The demolition ceremony, which will take place at 11:30 a.m., is part of a family-friendly Community Day that will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the parking lot outside the former Sears store.  

“We are excited to share more details on Sept. 7,” said Kimberly Green, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications, in an email.

In June, Columbus-based Washington Prime announced plans to “reposition” the space occupied by the closed Sears department store into “exterior-access, lifestyle oriented space” that would include greenspace, retail, dining and entertainment, and showed preliminary plans for the renovation. 

About a month ago, the company announced it had finalized a letter of intent with a national fitness center operator for space at the mall.

The company is in the process of utility planning through the Mahoning County building inspection office, said Krista Beniston, director of zoning and development for Boardman Township. Washington Prime has started design work on stormwater detention for a portion of the site, but the zoning department hasn’t received full plans for that yet, Beniston said.  

The Community Day event will feature food trucks, Touch-a-Truck, the Ohio State University football game on a big-screen television and more.

Pictured: A preliminary rendering of the proposed greenspace at Southern Park Mall.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.