Demolition Of Wayne Hills Mall Begins

WAYNE, NJ — It is the end of an era as demolition of the Wayne Hills Mall has begun.

The township's Building Department has issued a demolition permit for the 100,000-square-foot building. The inside of the mall, which has been vacant and untouched for years, and the roof have already begun to be demolished. The mall dates back to the mid-1970s.

Attorney Jerome Vogel, who represents property owner Levco Associates, could not be reached for comment. Levco purchased the property in 1993.

The developer is currently using contractors to abate any asbestos that was in the inside of the mall, said Mayor Chris Vergano.

The Planning Board approved a redevelopment plan for the 29-acre site in February 2016. The main mall will be demolished, but Burlington Coat Factory, which is located in a separate building next to it, will remain. (See related: Wayne Hills Mall Redevelopment Plan Approved)

Three new buildings will be constructed on site. A new upgraded, ShopRite grocery store will occupy the biggest building, along with five other stores. That building is going where the mall is now.

The two other buildings will be 14,000 and 9,000 square feet in size.

The buildings that house LA Fitness and K-Mart will also remain, Vergano said.

"We are very pleased that this project is moving forward to revitalize the Hamburg Turnpike corridor," Vergano said.

All stores will have their own exits and entrances. ShopRite already has a store on Hamburg Turnpike. (See related: ShopRite To Go On Redeveloped Wayne Hills Mall Site)

Such a configuration has revitalized the Wayne Town Center near the Willowbrook Mall. That property suffered a similar fate to the Wayne Hills Mall until a few years ago when the main building was torn down. Several retailers and restaurants, including Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Olive Garden, opened.

"The redevelopment will be 100 percent retail and we look forward to this long awaited project being completed," said Mayor Chris Vergano said when the redevelopment plan was approved. "We have worked closely with the property owners over the years in order to finally bring this redevelopment to fruition."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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