COLUMBUS, Ohio — The City of Columbus and the owners of Eastland Mall have reached an agreement regarding the demolition of the property.
The agreement sets a schedule for the demolition that looks to limit the impact on adjacent structures, including two charter schools and the future site of a global market.
City Attorney Zach Klein's office says if the owners fail to follow the timeline and requirements laid out in the agreement, the city can immediately motion the court to appoint a receiver to take over the property.
As part of the agreement, owners must present several contracts before Nov. 30, including a contract for the remediation of asbestos at the site and detailed plans for the alteration or demolition of the primary mall structure. By Dec. 31, owners must submit to the city for review all permit applications for alteration or demolition.
The first phase of demolition must be completed and have inspections conducted by May 31, 2025, Klein's office said.
The second phase of demolition, which includes the area connected to the Eastland Preparatory Academy, cannot commence until the school’s summer break at the end of May and must be completed by Sept. 15, 2025.
“I am committed to a future where the Eastland Mall site is primed and ready to be redeveloped so it can be an economic center on the east side again, but that needs to be done responsibly. This agreement sets out an aggressive schedule to prep this site for the future while also making sure it’s done right and that care is given to adjacent structures,” said Klein.
In Sept. 2022, the court found the Eastland Mall owners to be in contempt of a June 2022 court order requiring the site to be secured and brought up to code.
The court fined the owners $3,500 and imposed an additional fine of $250 for each day the property remained non-compliant.
The owners were again held in contempt in June 2024 for violating the same order, this time being fined $10,000 with an additional $1,000 per day fine until the property is brought up to code.
