Leaders announced Thursday that they intend to demolish Jamestown Mall, which has sat empty since it closed in 2014, so that the site can be used for a more community-minded development.
“We need a new way of doing business in North County as it pertains to our future.” — Councilwoman Shalonda Webb
Councilwoman Shalonda Webb joined Port Authority Chairman John Maupin and Rodney Crimm, CEO and president of the STL Economic Partnership, to announce this change in plans at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership in Clayton.
“We need a new way of doing business in North County as it pertains to our future,” Webb said. “No longer will it be passive, settling, or insensitive to any decision or action as it pertains to the future of North County. I am and will be intentional and informed about how we will move forward together.”
On June 16 Webb publicly opposed the development plans for the shuttered Jamestown Mall — effectively halting the St. Louis County Port Authority in its tracks. The agency had announced in mid-May that they had entered a contract with NorthPoint Development to redevelop the site for industrial use.
The Councilwoman represents District 4, which encompasses Florissant up north to Pelican Island and east to Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.
She said Thursday that she held two town halls with her constituents — one prior to the St. Louis County Port Authority’s announcement and one after.
“And even in both of those townhall meetings our residents were very forthcoming in sharing that they wanted something that would bring community development and even after I did some reaching out to get their feedback, the big thing was that we are a middle-class community and so we don’t want to industrialize our community,” Webb said.
While Maupin said in his remarks the demolition will be “very expensive,” when pressed on an approximate amount he said anything he came up with would be “pure speculation.” He emphasized that they will need to abate the environmental issues at the site before moving forward with bids for the clean-up and demolition.
“The buildings are far beyond redemption, they’re not safe in any way, shape or form,” Maupin said.
The chairman, as well as the Crimm, said they are encouraged by Webb’s leadership and are optimistic about the partnership to get the community-minded redevelopment underway.
“I just want you to know that we at the Port Authority, we want to do something that is positive and something that is worthwhile with the Jamestown Mall site,” Maupin said. “It’s been our intention since we’ve owned it, we’re as embarrassed as anyone else about how it looks and what is going on out there. There is very little we can do to stop the lawlessness, the break-ins and trespassing.”
When asked how this process will be any different than previous efforts, Webb said it’s the county’s commitment to the area.
“My first evidence is us standing here together,” she said. “A commitment from the St. Louis County that they support North County, that’s different than what’s been done before. Also, I know that these are great men, and they are very knowledgeable, but we’re working together and I am the leader of North County and I will make sure we are accountable and transparent to the residents, the business owners, the laborers, all of us — we all need to be able to fit in and benefit from this opportunity. It may not be right now but it will come.”
North County’s Jamestown Mall was an enclosed shopping mall located at Lindbergh Boulevard and Old Jamestown Road. The million-plus square feet of property was opened in 1973 and formerly included Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s and Sears as its anchor stores.
The mall began declining in 2000 and was finally shuttered in 2014.
