The owner of the so called "Ghost Mall" in Elk Grove that's been dormant for a decade says it will soon be tearing down the unfinished buildings at the site.
Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corporation has allowed its development deal with the city of Elk Grove to expire. Elk Grove city officials say the decision to demolish takes away lingering uncertainty about the mall.
"It's definitely a new chapter for Elk Grove. It's a chance for us to close the book on a failed project," says Darrell Doan, the city's Economic Development Director.
Doan says his staff will be refocusing retail development to more established parts of the city and reaching out to businesses who signed leases at the mall.
"It's an opportunity to take down those structures which have become blighted and unattractive," he said. "That site is still valuable."
Meanwhile, the Native American tribe building a casino next to the unfinished mall says news of the demolition won't affect them.
"Our project didn't hinge on them having an outlet collection mall and their project didn't hinge on us, or we didn't think it hinged on us," said Raymond C. Hitchcock, chairman of the the Wilton Rancheria tribe.
The land owned by Howard Hughes Corporation is zoned as a regional mall, but the City Council could change that.
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