New owner eyes town center for shuttered Marquette Mall
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The former Marquette Mall and Office Tower in Michigan City could soon have new life. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the new owner of the property has plans to redevelop it into a town center.
Moshe Shemian was originally part of a group that bought the property 19 years ago, but the southern California developer is now the full owner of the mall and seven-story office tower, the publication said.
He said in a news release that his goal is to “bring jobs and energy back to Michigan City.”
The mall opened in 1967 and was home to anchor stores such as Sears, Carsons and JCPenney, all of which eventually left. The interior of the mall closed in 2017.
Clarence Hulse, executive director of Economic Development Corp. Michigan City, said plans for the redevelopment could include residential, retail, restaurant and entertainment space.
“It’s a big deal,” Hulse told The Times. “It’s been dead and dying the last 20 years. This is putting in something more contemporary and more urban on the south side. It’s definitely a plus for growth.”
Hulse said Shemian’s team is doing a full review of the complex, noting that some parts may be demolished while the office tower is likely to remain.
A timeline for the redevelopment project is not yet known.