Century III Mall will be demolished, redeveloped into mixed-use site

Century III Mall will be demolished to make way for a possible mixed-use development, according to court documents filed Friday in the Western District U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Las Vegas-based Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC, which owns the property, plans to redevelop it over five years, with the design, permitting and demolition phase taking place over six to 12 months at a cost of about $10 million, according to court filings.

West Mifflin officials closed the mall in February, deeming the property “unsafe and uninhabitable” due to a broken water and fire suppression system.

The mall filed for bankruptcy in September. It has since struggled to remain open. It was granted a $5 million line of credit in February to keep operating, days after West Mifflin ordered the mall closed. By June, the mall was boarded up with only JCPenney open.

On June 7, the mall filed paperwork in bankruptcy court stating it would work with McKnight Realty Partners on redeveloping the mall property.

Site work on the nearly 90-acre property will take about 18 months at a cost of $20.4 million, and construction will take place over three phases. The redevelopment plan proposes a future blend of office, residential, hotel, entertainment and restaurant spaces.

“In addition to constructing new buildings with various uses, it is also expected that the redevelopment will include public space and trails for both bikes and pedestrians to be designed in collaboration with local officials and stakeholders,” the plan reads.

As part of the redevelopment plan, the mall’s lone tenant, JCPenney, could end up remaining. Its lease could “possibly” continue, according to court documents.