Topic: Columbus: Westland Mall Redevelopment

[CMH_Downtown]

'Lifestyle' approach planned for Westland
By Brian R. Ball, Business First
Date: Monday, May 9, 2005, 12:00am EDT

Columbus developer Plaza Properties plans to redevelop the Westland Mall after purchasing a half-interest in the 36-year-old retail center in Columbus.  Stephen Campbell, Plaza Properties' chief financial officer, told Business First that tentative plans call for tearing off the roof of the mall and putting two streets through the existing collection of shops and three anchor retail buildings, returning the property back to its late 1960s look.

"We want to take it back to its original concept, opening it up again," Campbell said.  The "lifestyle center" concept was made popular by the developers of Easton Town Center in Columbus, and the open-air shopping approach has appeared in new or planned retail centers in Cincinnati and Dayton.  Partnerships affiliated with California investors Sammy Kahan and Jackie Kashani sold a half interest in the 860,000-square-foot mall to Plaza Properties' Weston Town Centre LLC in late April for $5.5 million - the same amount the investors paid for the entire property in November 2002.

More at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/05/09/story7.html

[David]

Nothing ever happend with Westland mall

[Columbo]

West Side revival plotted
Local governments uniting to reverse regional decline
Monday, November 12, 2007 - 3:40 AM
By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

A plan to revive the faltering Westland Mall and soon-to-close Delphi Corp. plant could ultimately include a tax- sharing agreement between Franklin County, Columbus and Franklin Township.  It's a plan of regional importance to try to reverse the long slide of a once-thriving area now plagued by blight, crime and vacant stores and apartments.

The city intends to annex the Cooper Stadium site in Franklin Township. In exchange, Columbus would not pursue annexing Delphi or Westland, both in the township. County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy said commissioners intend to approve the stadium annexation at their meeting Tuesday.  Township officials want to keep Delphi and Westland for redevelopment and to bolster their tax base.

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2007/11/12/WESTSIDE.ART_ART_11-12-07_B01.html?sid=101

[WalkerEvans]

LINK: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/10/WESTLAND.ART_ART_05-10-08_A1_SNA5MVI.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

Westland owners hope to make a mini-Easton
Saturday,  May 10, 2008 3:27 AM
BY MARK FERENCHIK, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Owners of the largely vacant Westland Mall want to demolish it and replace it with an open-air shopping center of big-box stores, restaurants and smaller stores.  The mall turns 40 next year. It once was the primary shopping destination for residents of western Franklin County and beyond, but it was usurped by the nearby Mall at Tuttle Crossing and other malls.

Tearing down Westland and improving the property with such things as new lights and storm sewers would cost $3.3 million.  Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown and Greater Columbus Chamber President Ty Marsh have asked state legislators to include $500,000 in the two-year capital-construction package to help pay for the work.

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/10/WESTLAND.ART_ART_05-10-08_A1_SNA5MVI.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

[ColDayMan]

So basically, the original Northland plan.  Gotcha.

[dmerkow]

My map said there was a mall at Northland and all I saw was a pile of dirt.

[GCrites80s]

I think Westland would make a good dead mall museum. They could have pictures and artifacts from dead malls all around the world... oh wait, the dead malls phenomenon is almost exclusive to the U.S.

[CMH_Downtown]

Menards puts Westland store on hold
Economy-driven move also stalls larger plan for site
Thursday,  December 4, 2008 3:17 AM
By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Home-improvement chain Menards wants to build a store at Westland Mall but is delaying plans until next year, hoping that the economy will improve.  That, in turn, is postponing a long-awaited revival of the mall and its West Side neighborhood.  Officials from Menards and Plaza Properties, co-owner of the mostly vacant mall on W. Broad Street at I-270, have presented plans for a Menards, Sears and Staples anchoring a new shopping area.

Read more at 
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/12/04/Westland.ART_ART_12-04-08_C12_S4C4GVG.html?sid=101

[Columbo]

New Effort To Build Casino At Westland Mall Site Instead Of Arena District
By Patrick Preston, NBC4
Updated: December 24, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — NBC 4 has learned an effort is underway to convince casino developer Penn National to shift its focus away from Columbus’ Arena District and onto the site occupied by the Westland Mall.  The new strategy comes seven weeks after voters approved Issue 3, paving the way for an Arena District casino.  Former Franklin County Commissioner Dewey Stokes is working to rally west side business leaders behind the effort, recognizing that the Arena District site is meeting resistance in the community and inside Columbus City Hall.

Full story and video at http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/New_Effort_to_Build_Casino_at_Westland_Mall_Site_Instead_of_Arena_District/28867/

[Columbo]

From the April 29, 2010 Dispatch article:  Northland area thrilled to be getting home-improvement store.  Most of the article was reporting about Menards announcing they would be starting construction at the former Northland Mall site in mid-May.  However, there was some reporting in that article about Menards and Westland Mall (see below):

"Menards, the Wisconsin-based home-improvement chain, won't say what, if any, plan it still has for building at Westland Mall.  But some say the company might want to see whether it can ride a wave of West Side development that could follow Tuesday's primary election.  "A lot is based on what happens with the (casino) vote," said Chris Haydocy, president of the W. Broad Street auto dealership that bears his family's name.  A statewide vote Tuesday is to determine whether Penn National Gaming can build a casino at W. Broad and Georgesville Road rather than in the Arena District, where a state constitutional amendment allows it."

"As for Westland, Menards isn't talking.  Menards has discussed opening a store at Westland Mall and had signed a contract with mall owners.  But nothing has happened in the past two years.  Plaza Properties, a co-owner of the largely vacant Westland Mall, did not return calls."

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/29/building-a-future.html?sid=101

[Columbo]

Menards broke ground at the former Northland Mall site yesterday.  But it seems that good news for Northland is bad news for Westland Mall, according to this Dispatch article:

Menards is losing interest in Westland
Tuesday,  May 25, 2010
By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 
A Menards official said yesterday that it is doubtful the Wisconsin-based home-improvement chain will build a store at Westland Mall.  "It's highly unlikely at this point," said Scott Collette, Menards' chief operating officer, after a groundbreaking ceremony for the chain's first Columbus store, at the site of the former Northland Mall.

Menards continues to look at West Side properties, Collette said.  "For us, it's just a matter of finding the best location with the best economics for us," he said.  What that means for redevelopment plans for the mostly vacant mall at I-270 and W. Broad Street near the West Side casino site is unclear.

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/25/menards-is-losing-interest-in-westland.html?sid=101

[Columbo]

Unfortunately this is not redevelopment news for Westland Mall.  But the Dispatch did have an interesting look at Westland Mall's past in its latest Bicentennial history post (link below).  Apparently, today is the 43rd anniversary of Westland Mall's opening.

Although - as is pointed out in the article - the mall was not the first structure at the West Broad Street property.  In 1962 Lazarus built a free-standing store at this location.  The 1969 Westland Mall was an open-air mall added to the Lazarus store and also anchored by JCPenney and Sears.  Westland Mall was later fully enclosed in 1982.

Columbus Mileposts: Feb. 12, 1969 | Westland Mall’s debut draws crowd

[cher12]

In a recent article, it noted that Westland Mall was closed to pedestrian traffic as of November 2012. But the owner would announce a redelopment plan sometime in 2013. I did notice that Sears and Staples were still open though

[GCrites80s]

I went to the Sears to get something close to a year ago and the mallway was blocked off, making it a third-class mall. Cold wafted its way into the Sears as I shopped.

[ink]

Shermany and I walked though the mall earlier this year and it was still open. I do not remember what month, though.

[Columbo]

This is technically not an official development proposal.  But with four different proposals for outlet shopping centers currently being floated in Central Ohio - that's right FOUR - the director of Economic Development and Planning for Franklin County is asking why Westland Mall shouldn't also be considered.  Or as he asks in the article, “Why doesn’t Westland remain viable for another retail use?”.

From a purely planning standpoint this idea makes alot of sense.  At 860,000 square feet, Westland Mall is larger than the 350,000 square feet needed in the other outlet center proposals.  But some selective demolition could whittle Westland down to an acceptable size.  Plus, the buildings and infrastructure are already in place. 

However, the biggest plus for locating an outlet shopping center at Westland is the newly constructed Hollywood Casino that is right across the street from it.  Locating a tourist magnet like an outlet mall next to the existing tourist magnet of a casino seems like a natural match.  Plus, Westland's location right next to I-270 allows for good access and visibility.  Below is the article (full access subscription restricted) from Columbus Business First:

Business First: Schimmer asks why not Westland for new outlet mall?

The other four outlet shopping center proposal are as follows: (with links to their UO posts)

• Delaware County I-71 & Rts. 36/37 Tanger Outlet Proposal

• Delaware County I-71 & Rts. 36/37 NorthGate Centre Proposal

• New Albany Proposal

• Madison County Proposal

[ink]

My co-workers and I talked about this last week. Outlet mall and casino in one place; dead mall reborn.

[GCrites80s]

See ya later, grandkids' college fund.

[jeremyck01]

This is technically not an official development proposal.  But with four different proposals for outlet shopping centers currently being floated in Central Ohio - that's right FOUR - the director of Economic Development and Planning for Franklin County is asking why Westland Mall shouldn't also be considered.  Or as he asks in the article, “Why doesn’t Westland remain viable for another retail use?”.

From a purely planning standpoint this idea makes alot of sense.  At 860,000 square feet, Westland Mall is larger than the 350,000 square feet needed in the other outlet center proposals.  But some selective demolition could whittle Westland down to an acceptable size.  Plus, the buildings and infrastructure are already in place. 

However, the biggest plus for locating an outlet shopping center at Westland is the newly constructed Hollywood Casino that is right across the street from it.  Locating a tourist magnet like an outlet mall next to the existing tourist magnet of a casino seems like a natural match.  Plus, Westland's location right next to I-270 allows for good access and visibility.  Below is the article (full access subscription restricted) from Columbus Business First:

Business First: Schimmer asks why not Westland for new outlet mall?

The other four outlet shopping center proposal are as follows: (with links to their UO posts)

• Delaware County I-71 & Rts. 36/37 Tanger Outlet Proposal

• Delaware County I-71 & Rts. 36/37 NorthGate Centre Proposal

• New Albany Proposal

• Madison County Proposal

It would be like the huge outlet mall right next to the Morongo Casino just down the highway (well, 80 minutes) from me in Palm Springs.