Citing crime, Steeplegate redeveloper seeks green light for demolition

Side-by-side screenshots of project plans show both the existing building — and what would be left standing after demolition — and what Onyx aims to put on the property later.

Side-by-side screenshots of project plans show both the existing building — and what would be left standing after demolition — and what Onyx aims to put on the property later. Courtesy—

Side-by-side screenshots of project plans show both the existing building — and what would be left standing after demolition — and what Onyx aims to put on the property later.

Side-by-side screenshots of project plans show both the existing building — and what would be left standing after demolition — and what Onyx aims to put on the property later. Courtesy—

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Monitor staff

Published: 07-15-2024 5:12 PM

Citing trespassing and vandalism, developers hoping to turn the Steeplegate Mall into a major housing project are continuing to push for an expedited demolition for a majority of the property.

The project as a whole — which would put around 600 housing units in mixed-use buildings alongside major retail stores including a Costco and perhaps a Whole Foods market — is still weaving through the permitting process with the city. Even though it hasn’t gotten final approvals yet, Onyx Partners, which bought the land last year, wants to knock down most of the building in the meantime to halt increasing safety issues, including break-ins. The building’s long-term tenants JC Penney and Altitude Trampoline Park will remain, as has been the plan, and the other 425,000 square feet of vacant mall space would be knocked down if the planning board approves requested changes to the site plan on its agenda Tuesday.

Cars are increasingly abandoned or parked without permission, more and more trash and debris gets dumped, and vandalism and break-ins have required police intervention, according to the application. So-dubbed “urban explorers” using the eerie, mostly empty mall as social media fodder have also found their way inside. Onyx told the city that these safety concerns, including the risk of arson, are driving the desire to move up demolition. If successful, most of the structure would remain a slab until new construction could commence.

A city spokesperson did not respond to requests to discuss the request and safety concerns on the property. The developer did not return requests for comment on the demolition plan Monday.

The planning board is deciding on site plan amendments that would clear the way for the mall to be knocked down. Nearby Regal Cinemas, which held its last showing earlier this year, is set to be replaced by a Whole Foods under the new plans but is not included in this demolition request. Developers first presented the full project in a preliminary presentation to the planning board last fall, and recently got the needed variances from the zoning board. A request from a neighbor for the zoning board to reconsider those variances was rejected last week.

Planning boards oversee all types of projects under the broad direction of shaping overall development in the city. Zoning boards have a more narrow focus, usually weighing individual requests to build something that isn’t allowed under local rules. The project as a whole still needs to get approvals from the planning board before major construction could begin.

Onyx has previously said they hope to start construction this year — if they can get through the c ity approval process fast enough.

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