SC taxpayers might pitch in millions for nearly vacant Richland Mall redevelopment. Here’s how

A project to redevelop a nearly vacant mall is in line to receive a $2 million boost from the state.

State Sen. Mia McLeod, a Richland County independent, sponsored the earmark in the budget to help redevelop the nearly empty Richland Mall in Forest Acres.

The project is part of the Senate’s $13 billion budget approved earlier this month. Budget negotiations still need to take place with the House before the ultimate spending plan can be be signed by Gov. Henry McMaster.

“I’m elated that after many years of inactivity, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle recognize that this redevelopment project will be a tremendous economic driver for Richland County, the City of Forest Acres and surrounding school districts,” McLeod said in a statement.

The state money for the project would go to the city of Forest Acres to help develop a 6-acre public park, which would be the city’s largest, said Lynnsey Baker, the city’s public information officer. The park is one element of a massive overhaul planned for the moribund Richland Mall on Forest Drive, expected to be a $100 million undertaking paid for with both public and private dollars.

The cost of the park development was not immediately available.

The park is still being designed, but city officials intend to make it a public event space possibly including an amphitheater. Construction of the park will be in conjunction with redevelopment of the Richland Mall into a mixed-use project, expected to be anchored by a 100,000-square-foot grocery store, a brewery and some 500 apartments.

The city hopes to bring back a concert series, similar to its past Rooftop Rhythms events, Baker said. Community events, local theater and an annual Christmas tree lighting also would take place in the park.

“We want to make it a tourist destination,” Baker said.

Construction of the park, however, won’t happen right away if the expenditure is ultimately signed into law, Baker said.

Part of the mall, which developers will demolish, sits on land that will be used for the eventual park.

“We can’t move forward until they move forward with the demolition, which will be next year,” Baker said.

The park wouldn’t be completed for three or four years, Baker said.

The $2 million proposed state investment goes along with local incentives already approved for the project.

Richland County last year approved $23 million in incentives over 20 years for development firm Southeastern to overhaul the 32-acre mall property.

The first phase of the project is expected to take four to five years to complete.

Developers plan to demolish a bulk of the mall as part of the project.