Eastland Mall demolition begins as fall deadline nears

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Demolition of Eastland Mall is underway after the property owners, Eastland Mall Holdings LLC, reached an agreement with the City of Columbus in November to have it completed by Sept. 15.

According to court documents, the first phase of demolition is scheduled to be completed by May 31. The agreement also required the owners to make a $350,000 deposit to the court, which will fund the contractors in full.

The mall closed permanently in December 2022, when it was declared a public nuisance by a court because of health and safety code violations.

Two other property owners, GSP Hamilton Road LLC and IGWT Properties, own structures connected to Eastland Mall and had to consent to the demolition. GSP operates two adjacent charter schools, and IGWT is renovating its property to become a global market.

The second phase of demolition is delayed to minimize the effect on Eastland Preparatory Academy, a K-8 charter school that shares a wall with rest of the mall. The final demolition is scheduled for the academy’s summer break, which begins May 31.

The demolition helps clear the way for the Eastland Community Plan, a city project working to draft the future of the Eastland neighborhood. According to notes from the third and final public meeting on the plan, proposals emphasize quality of life, green spaces and communal centers. One draft for the space Eastland Mall inhabits would build a community hub in its place, complete with residential, recreational, retail and outdoor spaces.