West-end Regency Mall Closing

[coredumped]

I've heard from several mall employees that the west/new side of Regency Square (left in the photo below) will be town down in 2013/2014. I spoke with a Sears employee, he said they have no plans to leave and that they will wall off and be a stand-alone building. That's not uncommon for sears, I believe Fernandina and Melbourne both have sears outside of malls.

So everything between belk to sears will be torn down. I don't have any info on what they're going to do with the space. The mall has ample parking so I don't think they'll do that.

[duvaldude08]

Makes sense to me.

[copperfiend]

If true, it shouldn't surprise anybody. That half of the mall has been the dead zone for years.

[fsujax]

No surprise. I hope they can succesfully revitilize that area.

[JUGrad]

Will the Dillards Clearance store be closing?  Or will they be freestanding as well?

[thelakelander]

If this happens, it's a good first revitalization step, imo.  However, it must immediately be followed with a life-style component to replace it and provide connectivity with Sears and Dillard's.

[duvaldude08]

If this happens, it's a good first revitalization step, imo.  However, it must immediately be followed with a life-style component to replace it and provide connectivity with Sears and Dillard's.

Youre right that is why Im anxious to see EXACTLY what they are going to do. They will have to do something similar to what you mentioned. Im sure they will. This has been a long time coming.

[coredumped]

Thanks for checking Stephen - everything I've heard has been from mall employees. I do know that they're trying to get people on the west end of the mall to move.

I haven't heard anything as far as Dillards. I'm glad Sears will stay.

As far as transportation goes, that's already a JTA "mega stop" or whatever, it would be great if they could capitalize on that.

[thelakelander]

I just got off the phone with a representative from the mall.

Right now they don't have concrete plans in motion for the demolition, but it is what is heavily favored and anticipated from the chicago based management.

There is little chance of any of the property being redeveloped as mixed use, as the company has no appetite for adding that kind of property to its portfolio, although they would redevelop the demolished property, most likely for additional retail.

Sounds like either a lifestyle or power center.  I can't imagine a power center working to well since the typical anchor tenants are already present in the Regency area.

[tufsu1]

you still have to walk a quarter mile, often in the rain in order to get in the mall.
Something with an internal stop would make a hella  lot more sense.

stops internal to or directly next to the mall are often frowned upon by mall developers...transit agencies often have to fighjt just to get a stop on the priphery of the parking lot.

[coredumped]

you still have to walk a quarter mile, often in the rain in order to get in the mall.

Walking outside in the FLA is the cool thing to do! Proof: SJTC

[Tacachale]

you still have to walk a quarter mile, often in the rain in order to get in the mall.
Something with an internal stop would make a hella  lot more sense.

stops internal to or directly next to the mall are often frowned upon by mall developers...transit agencies often have to fighjt just to get a stop on the priphery of the parking lot.

That is certainly the case for the SJ Town Center. UNF has even faced some difficulty trying to get a stop for the internal shuttle out there.

[cline]

you still have to walk a quarter mile, often in the rain in order to get in the mall.
Something with an internal stop would make a hella  lot more sense.

stops internal to or directly next to the mall are often frowned upon by mall developers...transit agencies often have to fighjt just to get a stop on the priphery of the parking lot.

That is certainly the case for the SJ Town Center. UNF has even faced some difficulty trying to get a stop for the internal shuttle out there.

Same for the Avenues.  The have a shelter out towards the end of the parking lot north of the parking garage. 

For the Sunshine Bus Company (St. Johns County's transit provider) many stops are located at strip malls and often times the buses are allowed to drive through the parking lot and stop directly in front of stores.  Some stores even allow for a bus stop sign to be put up (Wal-Mart allows this).  I guess it really just depends on the tenant.  Having a bus stop sign is one thing, putting in a full shelter is another.

[thelakelander]

Put it into the zoning code and they'll have no choice.

[coredumped]

That is certainly the case for the SJ Town Center. UNF has even faced some difficulty trying to get a stop for the internal shuttle out there.

The reason UNF has "difficulty" getting a shuttle stop over there is because the town center doesn't want students parking there, and taking the shuttle to class. Students would of course do this to save ~$100 (or whatever it is now) on parking.