‘It’s an eyesore’ Contract approved for the demolition of Jamestown Mall

ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KMOV) - After years of sitting empty, the wrecking ball is coming for Jamestown Mall.

The St. Louis County Port Authority voted today to hire a contractor, Target Contractors, to tear down the old mall in North County.

“It’s been pretty ugly for a while,” said Rob Watkins, who lives nearby.

Those that live next door to Jamestown Mall can’t wait for it to be flattened.

“I don’t like it, it’s an eyesore. It caught fire a couple of times so that’s dangerous,” said Samantha Foster.

The mall has caught fire twice in the last three months.

In April, a fire broke out in the abandoned mall, prompting the St. Louis County Port Authority to pass a resolution to demolish the property, which has been closed since 2014.

That nasty fire led to St. Louis County Chair Shalonda Webb, pleading for demolition to come soon.

“The only time I want to come back to Jamestown Mall is when they bring the wrecking ball through,” said Webb back in April.

Now the mall is slated to be taken down within one year.

Thursday she tells News 4 it’s been an emotional day.

“One word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It’s been well overdue,” said Webb.

The tear down is already paid for.

Webb was able to raise $12 million for demolition. Half the money came from the state, and the other half from the county using federal money from the American Rescue Plan.

The contract agreed to Thursday is only around $7 million dollars according to Webb, meaning $5 million will be left to develop the land.

“A long time coming. And I needed the community to see that change is coming, that transformation is coming,” said Webb.

She said developers are already interested in the 142 acres of land and some type of mixed use development is coming.

“Those options are endless and then something for our youth,” said Webb.

That is music to the ears of Samantha Foster.

“I have four kids, hoping we can get some basketball or swimming or something,” said Foster.

Webb mentioned housing, boutique retail and restaurants as possibilities and didn’t rule much out, other than another mall.