What's next for Westdale

So another plan for Westdale Mall's redevelopment bites the dust.

Investors led by John Frew, who is also managing the convention complex project, dropped their bid to buy our fading mall. They had hoped to demolish much of it, keep its anchor stores and transform the property into a snappy town center with new retail and commercial development.

Frew's group wanted more time to work out details, but the owners refused. He won't say what details doomed the deal, but says nothing is ever totally dead. But this seems like a deep coma, at least.

“I think it will take a little while for this to percolate,” Frew said. “Never say never.”

So while that percolates, we're left wondering whether this is a sign of doom or a path to new opportunities. Is the mall half-full or half-empty?

City Council member Scott Olson, a commercial Realtor, thinks Westdale has reached a critical point. He fears that without a purchase deal soon, mall anchors J.C. Penney and Younkers might start making other plans for the future after their leases end in a couple of years. County offices are gone and the library will be moving out.

“We may have to look at other possible roles to make this happen,” said Olson, who thinks the city should consider taking a more active role in forging a purchase deal. “We've got to get this deal done this year in my estimation. Otherwise, I think it will be too late.”

Mayor Ron Corbett is cautiously optimistic. The mall property is valuable, especially with nearby growth and Highway 100 expansion on the way, so he thinks buyers will come. When they do, the city is willing to consider using TIF to aid redevelopment. But he's wary of stepping in sooner.

“I'm not sure what we could do other than bring the buyer and seller together and mediate some type of deal. If the gap is a financial gap, what you're talking about is the city coming up with money to close that gap. I don't think that would happen on the purchase,” Corbett said.

It's tough, with so many concerned about the mall's future, to sit tight. But I think that's the smart play at this hour. It's possible that Frew's interest will prompt new buyers with a similar vision, maybe local buyers. We've waited this long. What's a couple more months of percolating?

But Olson's right that sitting tight too long would be a mistake. This does feel like a critical stretch, and the city can't afford to let the mall slide to a point of no return. For many west-siders I've talked with over the years, Westdale is more than a mall. It's a litmus test on the city's commitment to their economic future.