By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said a top priority in his second term will be to come up with a long-term plan to revitalize struggling Eastland Mall, but first he’s working with the mall’s owner to prevent the place from becoming an eyesore, or perhaps a safety hazard.
On social media, a frustrated Eastland customer shared a photo of the mall parking lot after dark – the lot’s lights were off and the customer says a store employee told her the lights have been off for three weeks.
A Sunday evening check showed lights on in much of the lot, but dark on the main entrance side – the Empire street side of the building.
Renner said he plans to discuss the problem with the mall’s Tennessee-based owner, CBL and Associates.
“There are some issues with upkeep and property upkeep that we want to bring to their attention,” Renner said. “A mall should be inviting, not something where you have poor lighting and you might be a little worried.”
A CBL spokeswoman is looking into the specific lighting complaint, but she says the firm considers it a top priority to provide a “comfortable and convenient experience for our customers, employees, and retail partners.”
Renner said the city should help Eastland reinvent itself, perhaps in the form of an outdoor mall similar to redevelopment of College Hills Mall in Normal.
“My understanding is there has not been an enclosed mall built in the United States in over 10 years,” Renner added.
Renner said he would consider sales tax rebates or creation of a tax increment financing district for Eastland, but he says up-front public money is not an option.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].
