Columbus City Center will close its doors for the final time on Thursday.
The mall, which was once touted as a model to revitalize downtown cities, opened in 1989 as athree-level shopping center with more than 100 stores, 10TV's Tino Ramos reported.
Over the years, the opening of other shopping centers across central Ohio drew shoppers awayfrom downtown, and Columbus City Center now stands mostly vacant.
Plans to tear down the building were announced in February. The mall will be replaced by a $165million project called "Columbus Commons."
DISCUSS: Share Your Thoughts On The Project | SLIDESHOWS: Images Of Plans | City Center: The Beginning
Artist renderings of the plans show a nine-acre urban park, housing and retail development andnew office buildings, Ramos reported.
Mayor Michael Coleman said changes to the area were long overdue.
"Right now we have a vacant and abandoned building, maybe the largest in America sitting righton High Street," Coleman said. "It won't get better unless we do something."
Work on the project will begin this summer and is scheduled to be completed by 2019. Lawmakersand developers will seek $15 million in federal stimulus money to fund it, 10TV News reported.
Underground parking below City Center and a nearby parking garage off State Street will bespared during demolition.
Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
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February 4, 2009: $165Million Plan For City Center Unveiled
