“The mall in its current condition is a public safety hazard and a drag on the economic viability of this business corridor,” said Greg Kathman, Fairfield’s development director.
“The proposed business park represents a substantial capital investment from a respected national developer which will remove the blighted mall structures and bring new jobs and activity to the area.”
Hillwood has an option to purchase the acres for the project from New York-based World Properties LLC, contingent on approval of a rezoning request from both Forest Park and Fairfield city councils.
The front part of the former mall fronting South Gilmore Road would remain owned by World Properties LLC and could be redeveloped at a future date.
Three, light industrial buildings of 250,000 to 355,000 square feet each would make up the business park, according to submitted plans. It is similar to a plan proposed by developers in 2023 that called for a business park with four buildings.
Credit: Sue
Credit: Sue
Last year Hillwood proposed a single building that would have become corporate headquarters for Hillman Solutions Corp., but that plan didn’t move forward.
No tenants have yet been publicly identified for the current project. Before redevelopment can proceed, the land in both cities has to be rezoned.
On Monday Fairfield held its first reading on an ordinance to change the zoning and has scheduled a joint public hearing with its planning commission for Feb. 10.
Earlier this month, Forest Park’s planning commission recommended approval of the project to its city council, which held a public hearing Monday. No decision was made on the rezoning.
The Butler County Land Bank in November agreed to use its $7.9-million state grant toward the demolition costs provided the empty and condemned garage was included, said Mike McNamara, Butler County’s treasurer and land bank head.
“We want to make sure the local governments are satisfied with the proposals,’’ McNamara said. “There has to be project collaboration. We were very excited about progress on the entire site.”
Credit: Sue
Credit: Sue
The grant dollars have to be spent by the end of this year, said David Fehr, Butler County’s development director. He said they are planning to talk with the Ohio Department of Development on Wednesday about extending that deadline assuming the project moves forward.
The demolition cost is estimated to top $10 million, said Greg Kathman, Fairfield’s development services director. Hillwood would have to pay anything above that.
The 1.5 million square foot Forest Fair Mall sits on 90 acres and opened in 1989. The site has been difficult to redevelop because it sits in two cities, two counties – Hamilton and Butler – and three school districts – Fairfield, Winton Woods, and Northwest.
The interior of the mall was closed in fall of 2022 after being deemed unsafe. The parking garage was condemned in 2018.
Kohl’s is the last remaining tenant in the mall and it recently announced it would close at the end of March.
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