Economic development officials in Niagara County met Wednesday with a few investors who may be interested in rescuing The Summit shopping mall from closure as a result of bankruptcy.
During a meeting with mall tenants Wednesday evening at the Town of Wheatfield Community Center, Supervisor Timothy Demler said he personally met with representatives from a Buffalo company who expressed interest in the building while officials from the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency met with two more from undisclosed locations.
Demler stressed the discussions with potential buyers are preliminary and the town and the county is still proceeding as if the mall will close in June as announced under a bankruptcy filing made by the building’s current owner on Tuesday.
“We’re hoping that comes to fruition,” Demler said of the potential for finding a buyer for the mall. “There’s nothing signed. There’s nothing official. We are hoping.”
County officials and the mall’s 26 tenants were surprised to learn Tuesday the shopping center’s owner, Oberlin Plaza One, had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in North Carolina. The move nullifies the leases with all but three of the mall’s tenants who were notified that they would be expected to move out of the building within 30 days. The Bon Ton, Sears and Sav-A-Lot were not impacted by the bankruptcy proceeding and will remain open.
Demler told tenants finding someone willing to purchase the mall and continue its operation was top priority for the town and the county at this point.
“I would rather have somebody buy the mall and keep the mall open and alive than try to relocate the businesses and do all that work,” he said.
Demler said negotiations are continuing with the mall’s owner for an extension of the 30-day deadline to at least 60 days. In addition, he said county and town officials have expressed an interest in working with the current owner to see if entering into some sort of public-private partnership would help. Demler said officials from Oberlin Plaza One did not reject an offer from the county to present a plan to fill some of the vacant space at the shopping center possibly with public office space or recreational areas.
In the meantime, Demler said the town is currently working with local assessors to develop a list of available retail spaces that could serve as suitable alternatives for the mall tenants. Demler said the goal is to keep as many of the mall’s tenants in the town as possible, but he said locations throughout the county and the region also will be considered.
“The important thing is to keep the jobs and keep your businesses regardless of what town you are in,” Demler said.
Several tenants expressed concern about timing, noting that 30 days did not seem like enough to complete the sale of the mall.
Town Attorney Robert O’Toole agreed that the current deadline would present a serious challenge to keeping the mall open. He met privately with several tenants to discuss potential legal options.
“There is a very short time frame,” he said.
Communities
Related Photos
-
Wheatfield Town Supervisor Timothy Demler, right, speaks to current Summit Mall tenants at the Wheatfield Senior Center Wednesday night. DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH
WHEATFIELD: Saving the Summit?
Wheatfield supervisor says investors may be interested in Williams Road facility
- Communities
-
-
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.
-
Lewiston's welcome center honored as project of the year for historic restoration
A piece of Lewiston’s history is about to be honored as a preservation project of the year.
-
SLIDESHOW: Volunteers Search for Judith
Volunteers gathered on 102nd Street in Niagara Falls to search for the missing Judith Burr, 67. Shortly after the search began, the body of Judith was found in the dense brush just east of 102nd Street.
-
Niagara woman is fooled by ‘phisher’
Beverley Porter was taking a nap one day last week when her phone rang.
The scammer at the other end of the line had gotten lucky. After most likely making random calls to numbers in the 716 area code, he was able to catch the Town of Niagara woman when she was groggy, and slightly medicated from a minor surgical procedure earlier in the day. -
On the hunt for blue jeans at Niagara Falls High School
Students at Niagara Falls High School are ready for one final push in its campaign to win a national contest.
-
Lewiston Relay holding kickoff party
The kickoff to the 15th annual Relay For Life Lewiston will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, at the Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect St.
-
Teacher likes this Apple at Lew-Port
Keeping up with technology is a problem almost everywhere. But in the classroom, a deficiency can cripple children as they move through their formative years into post-high school.
-
Basket Factory closes its doors in Middleport
The Basket Factory is no longer open for business.
The owners, Julie Thompson Riegle and Dawn Thompson, made the difficult decision last Monday and put the sign on the door Tuesday. -
Black History Month celebrated at Mount St. Mary's
February is Black History Month, and the administration at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital took time Thursday to honor some of its employees of color and their contributions.
-
Lockport man scratches his way to $1 million
Paul Schneider had just gotten off the phone with his girlfriend when he called her back with some amazing news.
- More Communities Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
