Conversation to continue on Columbia Mall redevelopment

Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski will lead a delegation to Chicago for a Wednesday meeting with the owners of Columbia Mall – GK Development.

Bochenski says plans to redevelop the mall property  stalled earlier this year.

He says the potential ideas range from a housing component…to a smaller retail footprint…and indoor recreational space.  “The owners of the mall and owners of Macy’s have kind of been fighting with each other.  We’re getting everyone in the same room.  We’ve got the developer that wants to do the housing side.  A developer that is looking at recreation.  So hopefully we will have something tangible coming out of that.”

Bochenski says he’d like to see the project move forward sooner rather than later.  “Look at all the other projects happening in the city…it’s time to get that one going as well.”

The mayor discussed the upcoming meeting as a guest on KNOX’s Jarrod Thomas program.