A partial parking deck sprinkled with graffiti, mounds of dirt, rubble and piles of concrete are all that remain at the site of the former Richland Mall.
The structure, that once stood at the intersection of North Beltline Boulevard and Forest Drive, was demolished last year to make room for what Forest Acres Mayor Thomas Andrews hopes will become the new epicenter of the city.
The completed project — still some three years away — is currently in phase one.
Mayor Andrews says this is the biggest investment for the area in the last 35 years. The city purchased a portion of the 30-acre site to develop a new park. He says it will include plenty of green space, trails, and stages for live concerts. And that's just the beginning.
"Forest Acres is not your traditional type of city," said Mayor Andrews. "We are always looking for places to have events. This will be that new place. Our hope is to re-center the city."
And Andrews says the new development is not just exciting for residents. Families outside of the community are also ready to see something new in place of the former mall.
"I think people knew Richland Mall was underutilized and was no longer sustainable, and they were happy to see it go down," said Andrews. "People are curious to see what's happening now and what is coming next."
In addition to the new park, the site will also include mixed-use development. The city hasn't said what businesses will be housed there, but project developer Southeastern has plans for a brewery, retail space and 380 apartments.
The park is expected to be complete by early summer of 2028 while Mayor Andrews expects the mixed-use space to be done by next March.
Southeastern has said they don't expect traffic to be a big concern for the area. The South Carolina Department of Transportation will still need to conduct a traffic study.
