GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A local developer wants to transform the former Macy’s inside Columbia Mall into commercial and storage space after the anchor store has sat empty for nearly a decade.
The City of Grand Forks is considering a rezoning proposal from Midwest Ventures, LLC., in partnership with Crary Real Estate and the Haugs Family, that would allow the developer to transition the old Macy’s space into a commercial and storage facility.
Developer has experience with similar projects
“The proposal comes from a local developer that’s done similar set up at K-Mart, the former K-Mart on Washington,” said Ryan Brooks, City Planner for the City of Grand Forks.
“Their thought was trying to fully utilize that 100,000 square foot building that’s there. In addition, all the parking area that’s out there, and potentially putting up some new structures there as well.”
Brooks said other businesses have shown interest in the former Macy’s located inside the mall on South Columbia Road.
“We’ve had other requests, we’ve even had a private school that looked at that spot,” Brooks said.
“They just weren’t able to get through all the requirements through the mall and getting approval for what they needed to have done there.”
Developer sees project as catalyst for broader development
During a city meeting last week, Russel Crary, with Crary Real Estate and Development, spoke about the developer’s goals for the project.
“It’s been long enough. There’s been a lot of ideas that have gone around but some of them are detached a little bit from reality,” Crary said.
“It’d be great to see a Macy’s or a big box come in. That’s not necessarily happening around us. We think that this is hopefully the first domino to fall in a larger development. We’re happy to play a role in future ones.”
City leaders hope the rezoning can help revitalize the struggling mall complex.
“Things I’ve heard so far, ‘I think we need to try something,’” Brooks said.
“It’s been vacant and kind of, a lot more vacancies have been increasing I’ll say over the last ten years. I think a lot of people are saying ‘Let’s try something.’ Certainly we’re going to have those public hearings and find out if there’s any other thoughts as well out there.”
The rezoning is set to be discussed at next week’s city council meeting. Brooks said final approval could come as early as February.
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