Northridge Mall demolition continues; project on schedule, budget
Demolition work at Northridge Mall site (Jan. 30, 2025)
MILWAUKEE - As demolition continues at Milwaukee's Northridge Mall, the Department of City Development said Thursday that work remains on schedule and on budget.
Demolition timeline
Timeline:
Demolition of the property began last year. The mall had been vacant since 2003.
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This week, the Boston Store space on the east end of the mall came down; work began in March 2024. Crews began razing the former JCPenney location this week, too.
The city said it expects all mall buildings to be demolished by mid-summer. Environmental work continues inside the remaining part of the mall.
Northridge Mall vacant
The backstory:
The mall closed in 2003, and an exodus of more businesses from the Brown Deer corridor followed.
"It’s been difficult, having such a large area just standing there – especially with the decay that it’s had over the number of years," Al Hill, a longtime Granville neighborhood resident and past president of the former Granville-Brown Deer Chamber of Commerce, told FOX6 News in November. "I think that’s been a real detriment for the branding of the community."
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The eyesore and frustration included multiple police and fire calls.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson described what has been dubbed the "Granville Station" project as a "catalytic opportunity" for the city. That opportunity could include new housing, businesses and jobs.
As for what will become of the former mall, Hill said he hopes it's not storage or light industrial – as found elsewhere in the area. Rather, he hopes whatever comes draws people to live, work and shop in a community atmosphere.
What you can do:
The public can follow developments and provide input on the city's website. To learn more about what has been dubbed the Granville Station project, visit the city's project website.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee Department of City Development and prior FOX6 News coverage.