Monroe Chat

Towne Mall proposals on the table

By Ed Richter, Staff Writer
Updated 8:48 AM Monday, July 20, 2009

Proposals on the redevelopment of the Towne Mall will be presented to Middletown City Council when it meets on Tuesday, July 21.

In April, the city contracted with consultants McBride Dale Clarion to develop a master plan and strategy to redevelop the 56.3-acre mall area. The 457,571 square-foot mall, which opened in 1977, currently has 34 vacant store spaces. One of its anchor stores, Dillard’s, closed last year.

According to city Economic Development Director Mike Robinette, the consultants had worked with the various stakeholders, including the mall’s owner, CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn., and the three anchor stores — Sears, Elder-Beerman and Dillard’s — to prepare a redevelopment strategy and a summary of key issues and redevelopment alternatives.

The consultant’s report, which is to be released at Tuesday’s council meeting, will outline the various scenarios that range from a retail use to a variety of other uses. It also will include the renaming of the area to Renaissance West.

Council is also expected to discuss proposals about redeveloping the mall area. The Towne Mall has been identified as a dying mall by some online publications.

In other business, council is expected to give final approval to an ordinance limiting the size of private parking areas in residential districts. If approved, residential parking areas will have to have a hard surface and cannot exceed more than 50 percent of the front yard.

Middletown City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers on the lower level of the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza.

I have seen this so called "mall"....reminds me of the "mall" in downtown Cincy. They are both jokes. Middletown needs to bulldoze and do something productive with the piece of land. Too much retail in the area and there are how many malls within 20-25 min drive, that are far better???

I find it interesting that Dillards was still involved in conversations to remodel/repurpose the mall. They must either own their portion or have a long term lease that they are still holding onto.

I think they should re-fit the building to service medical offices or specialists offices connected to the Atrium Hospital.

kolby wrote:I have seen this so called "mall"....reminds me of the "mall" in downtown Cincy. They are both jokes. Middletown needs to bulldoze and do something productive with the piece of land. Too much retail in the area and there are how many malls within 20-25 min drive, that are far better???

I find it interesting that Dillards was still involved in conversations to remodel/repurpose the mall. They must either own their portion or have a long term lease that they are still holding onto.

McAlpins was the first store there...before the mall was even built. Since Dillards bought McAlpins, I would assume that would mean the building too. To the best of my knowledge, all 3 of the anchors are "separate" from the mall itself. (I spent 12 years working there, divided between the remaining 2 anchors)

Make a truckstop for AK.

phil wrote:Make a truckstop for AK.

I thought it would be an EXCELLENT location for a coke plant

~H*B*G~ wrote:

phil wrote:Make a truckstop for AK.

I thought it would be an EXCELLENT location for a coke plant

Hahahaha... I like the way you think!

Bob Kelley wrote:I think they should re-fit the building to service medical offices or specialists offices connected to the Atrium Hospital.

Casino? Correctional Institute?
Vocational School?

[ Post made from my mobile or smartphone ]

How about the new train station for the rail system that will one day link Dayton and Cincinnati?