New plans for defunct Northgate Mall call for big-box retailer
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Northgate Mall closed in 2020. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios
New redevelopment plans for Durham's defunct Northgate Mall call for the construction of a new, 140,000-square-foot space for a national retailer and the demolition of much of the old mall.
Why it matters: The future of Northgate Mall has been one of the most contentious redevelopments in the region, with nearby neighbors objecting to previous plans for the property.
- The mall, which was a fixture of the city and an influence on the area for six decades, has sat empty for five years and occupies a prominent space between downtown and Interstate 85.
The big picture: The mall's current owners, Northwood Investors, had previously proposed turning the mall into a life sciences campus, but the new plans, submitted by the shopping center developer Regency Centers, appear to override that potential rezoning.
Driving the news: Regency Centers, whose portfolio includes open-air shopping centers such as Village District in Raleigh and Blakeney Town Center in Charlotte, will buy one-third of the property from Northwood, the two companies tell Axios, and rename the site Ellerbe Square.
In its plans for the site, billed as just the first phase, Regency wishes to build:
- Six buildings, ranging in size from around 3,000 square feet to 140,000 square feet. It calls for them to be a mix of retail and restaurants, with Regency close to signing a deal with a national retailer for the anchor site.
- The plans would demolish most of the mall, the former movie theater and a parking deck along Gregson Street.
- It would also add a parking lot with more than 750 spaces.
- Construction could begin as soon as late next year, said Eric Davidson, a spokesperson for Regency.
Between the lines: The new plans come after the Durham City Council, in partnership with the nearby Walltown Neighborhood Association, passed a non-binding small area plan that details visions for the neighborhood's future.
- That vision included fewer surface parking lots, the addition of affordable housing, open space and walking paths. At least for this portion of the property, that small area plan's vision is not being followed.
- The current plan from Regency would not need a rezoning and comes ahead of Durham's planned rewriting of its unified development ordinance, which sets the rules for development.
What they're saying: Nate Baker, a member of the Durham City Council, called the plans "disappointing" for being "auto-centric and inconsistent with the community vision."
- He added, however, that he's "still hopeful that the landowners will come to the table and work together to create a great site plan."
State of play: But without a rezoning needed, the city council's influence only extends so far.
- Northwood's plans for the rest of the property remain to be seen, however, and another rezoning could come in the future. The city hopes that housing is included on the site at some point.
- "That area is severely underutilized," Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told Axios. "I do think something like a Target will be great over there, because Target brings other retail."
- "The thing is, will we get housing out of it? Will we get a mass development project out of it?" he added. "That's going to require a rezoning, and based on what I've been told, there's very little appetite for developers to have to come back to the city council for that."
