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Boardman paves way for $4M Southern Park Mall renovation project
BOARDMAN
Some major renovations at Southern Park Mall are set to begin soon.
Township officials are close to completing the steps necessary on their part for the mall to begin a roof-replacement project using federal Property Assessed Clean Energy funds, and the company plans to award a bid this week.
The township’s actions are “another step toward finalization,” said township Administrator Jason Loree. “They’re really ramping up their push to start construction.”
All the paperwork required from the township is set to be complete by the end of the week. The company plans to start construction sometime before June 1, said Kathy Hyatt Smith, operations director for Southern Park Mall LLC.
She said the company does not have a final project cost because the bid has not been awarded.
The PACE financing program, which allows businesses and property owners to acquire and repay funds for energy upgrades, will cover the entire cost of the roof replacement.
“We have a lot of positive things that are happening at the mall, that are already underway, over the next eight to 12 months,” Smith said.
One addition that is set to be unveiled soon is an 18,000-square-foot H&M store that will open in the Sears concourse of the mall April 30.
The township, which previously set up an energy-improvement district to allow the mall to take advantage of the program, will not make or spend any money on the project.
The township will act as a tax collector, while the Western Reserve Port Authority will lend the money to the mall at a low interest rate. The dollars then will be paid back through assessments on property taxes.
The board of trustees passed four resolutions this week that were required for the project to proceed, such as a cooperative agreement and a tax-lien agreement.
Township officials say they are eager to aid the project.
“When we see redevelopment in Boardman Township, it’s a good sign that the economy is strong. If businesses weren’t investing in their current locations, we would be generally concerned about the health of the economy,” Loree said.
He highlighted other recent redevelopment projects in the township, such as at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, Tiffany Square and area restaurants, and the addition of a Jared The Galleria of Jewelry.
“With the mall, that kind of builds on to the reinvestment and redevelopment of Boardman Township,” he said.