The site of a long-vacant mall in Milwaukee is largely an empty lot now, with some excavators and other equipment still there from the building’s demolition. But Milwaukee leaders say they hope the site will soon have a new life.
Northridge Mall, which opened in 1972, used to be a shopping hub on Milwaukee’s northwest side. After it closed in 2003, the 975,000-square-foot building became an eyesore and a target for vandals.
In 2022, four fires in the span of three weeks inside the property prompted Milwaukee’s fire chief to call for the building to be razed.
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The city took ownership of a 58-acre site on the former mall property in January 2024. Months later, demolition began with the help of $15 million in federal pandemic relief aid funds allocated by Gov. Tony Evers.
On Wednesday, city leaders gathered to celebrate the completion of the demolition of the former mall building, which Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called a “milestone” for the city, and to look ahead at potential uses of the space.
“This represents more than just the clearing of a site,” Johnson said during a press conference. “It represents the creation of a foundation, because there’s huge opportunity here for new jobs, for new housing, new investment in an area that deserves continued commitment and attention.”
Local officials said the site could be home to a sports and entertainment facility, health care campus, advanced manufacturing campus or a housing development. The city is seeking resident feedback.
“We’re not going to be too overly prescriptive on this,” Johnson said. “We want to get feedback about what works.”
Lafayette Crump, commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of City Development, said the goal is to find a business or organization that will add value to the neighborhood and to the city.
“We’ll be looking to recruit a large anchor user that will create jobs, grow the tax base and have ripple effects that spur additional investment in the surrounding area,” Crump said.
Portions of the former mall site have already been redeveloped. A Menards, Pick ‘n Save grocery store and Foot Locker stand on other portions of the property now.
Milwaukee won’t have to look far for examples of other municipalities that have sought to redevelop former malls and shopping centers that have been razed.
The Wausau Center Mall was demolished in 2021. The Foundry on 3rd, an apartment complex development, opened on that land last week.
Memorial Mall in Sheboygan was partially demolished in 2017. That site was replaced with a Meijer store.
Portions of Regency Mall in Racine were also recently demolished. There’s a “phased transformation” that’s occurring on that site now, according to the Racine County Economic Development Corporation.
A Woodman’s Market grocery store recently opened on that property. Walter Williams, the director of city development for the city of Racine, said 260 “market-rate apartment units” are being planned by Hull Property Group on a portion of the site now.
“We’re really excited about that,” Williams said about the apartment development plans.
Another mall in downtown Milwaukee was also recently redeveloped to include apartments, shopping and 3rd Street Market Hall — a large food hall and event space.
City seeking public feedback on former Northridge Mall site
Crump said he’d like to see the site become a “community focal point for the area.” He said the city will market the site for sale next year.
“This step will allow us to engage potential partners, gather innovative ideas and ensure future development aligns with our community’s vision and priorities,” Crump said.
At a community meeting about future plans for the site earlier this year, some ideas from residents included housing, a multi-use park, a mixed-use development, garden, grocery store and retail space, according to a city website.
Housing could be a welcome option for the site, as more than 95,000 households in Milwaukee are struggling with high housing costs, according to a 2024 statement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Johnson said he and Crump visited Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek when they were thinking about plans for the site. That mixed-use development includes housing, retail space and a hotel. The Oak Creek City Hall is also at that property.
One thing it’s not likely to be: a data center. Johnson said those developments, such as the ones in Racine County and Ozaukee County, are on larger parcels of land.
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