Oldtown Mall in city's sights again for revitalization work

Nearby development is viewed as a benefit

"We want to be careful about moving too quickly," he said. "We want to make sure we take the time and do the project right. What we do will depend on the size of the parcel. You only have so many shots with retailers. We want to be definite about the timing and size of the project."

City officials have been trying to redevelop the mall in one of the city's oldest commercial districts for years.

The shopping district, with dozens of historic, turn-of-the-century buildings, was turned into a pedestrian mall in the 1970s, when four blocks of North Gay Street were closed to traffic.

But the mall lost customers after nearby high-rise housing was demolished. Neighborhood residents have long hoped for a supermarket, but developers selected previously were never able to move forward.

"We've tried to figure out what more does it take to make the Oldtown area come alive again," Brodie said. "We've held community meetings and said we believe we need more acquisition authority."

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