The Greendale Village Board on June 17 approved a redevelopment plan for the former Boston Store site at Southridge Mall, which has been vacant since 2018. All seven village trustees voted in favor of the project.
Barrett Lo Visionary Development seeks to transform the property, 5300 S. 76th St., into a mixed-use residential and retail complex.
Current plans call for 739 market-rate apartment units, about 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 15,000-square-foot public green space at the center of the development. No low-income units are proposed.
According to the Village of Greendale, the project is expected to generate approximately $100.2 million in new land and improvement value.
The former Boston Store site has sat vacant since 2018. Initial discussions to redevelop the property began on Oct. 16, 2020, during a public meeting. The village officially purchased the property on May 18, 2021.
On June 4, the Greendale Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the general development plan.
Village Manager Mike Hawes said a few remaining issues are still being resolved, including the process for demolishing the Boston Store building and constructing a new exterior mall wall.
“We’re still working through some of the remaining restrictions-related issues,” Hawes said. “But we expect those to be resolved by the time the developer has secured all the zoning approvals they need.”
According to planning documents, the project would be completed in phases and be designed to integrate with the existing Southridge Mall layout. Features include wide sidewalks, double-height retail spaces, and a pedestrian-friendly streetscape centered around the village green. The development would be accessed via the mall’s ring road and is not expected to disrupt current traffic patterns or infrastructure.
The project could revamp Southridge Mall after the mall had gone under financial troubles following the loss of two anchor stores to the property.
When will construction begin?
According to the official phasing plan, construction will proceed in seven phases.
Phase 1: Demolition, July, December 2025
Phase 2: Foundation work, December 2025 – March 2026
Phase 3: Building shell and framing, March – November 2026
Phase 4: Building completion, November 2026 – July 2027
Phases 5–7: Interior fit-out, systems installation, and final inspections, conclusion date is TBA
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greendale Village Board approves $100 million Southridge Mall redevelopment
Reporting by Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
