St. Johns County issued a demolition permit June 2 for the St. Augustine Outlets center, property that is targeted by owners for redevelopment.
Just one store, Loft Outlet, remained open June 3.
All Phase Solutions LLC of Delray Beach is the contractor identified for the project at 470 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine.
No demolition cost was listed.
The 31-acre property comprises about 429,000 square feet among three buildings at northeast Interstate 95 and Florida 16, property records show.
Property records show a 344,259-square-foot building was built in 1999.
Also, 55,595- and 28,778-square-foot buildings were developed in 2008.
“We expect to begin demolition of the main mall building within the next several weeks,” said a statement June 3 from a spokesman for the owner, New York City-based Lightstone.
“That work will not interfere with any store that is currently operating. We anticipate the demolition work will take 90-120 days.”
He said there was no timetable for the other two buildings.
The mall website lists three tenants but two don’t have working phone numbers.
A representative for the Loft Outlet confirmed it was the only remaining store. It also has a sister outlet, an Ann Taylor Factory Store, across I-95 at the St. Augustine Premium Outlets.
Lightstone, through LVP St. Augustine Outlets LLC, paid $42 million for the St. Augustine Outlets in 2006
According to a June 8, 2021, application to St. Johns County Growth Management requesting a major modification to the St. Augustine Centre Planned Unit Development, Lightstone said it wanted to close the mall and develop up to 350 multifamily units and up to 99,500 square feet of retail and commercial space.
“The Applicant proposes to redevelop the site, or a portion thereof,” the application reads.
The development at 500 Outlet Mall Blvd. is called St. Augustine Centre on the application.
Lightstone said then it didn’t have a timeline for closing the mall.
“As the retail industry evolves we are exploring re-imagining the St. Augustine Outlets site for the 21st century,” a Lightstone spokesperson said by email June 10, 2021.
“The redevelopment of St. Augustine Outlets into a vibrant mix of residential, retail, dining and medical uses will revitalize this high-profile location at the doorstep of St. Augustine and spur economic development throughout St. Johns County.”
A site plan shows 14 acres dedicated to multifamily development that according to the PUD could be up to three stories. It shows five outparcels of 1.4 to 4.5 acres each.
The application also said a theater of up to 10 screens as well as up to 400 hotel rooms could be part of the plan.
St. Johns County commissioners voted unanimously in November in favor of redevelopment.
Across Outlet Mall Boulevard, Baptist Health owns 8.5 acres, which the site plan shows is for “Baptist Medical Center.” Baptist Health Properties Inc. bought the property May 25, 2021, from Lightstone Value Plus REIT LP for $6.8 million.
That property was rezoned to allow for a 100,000-square-foot medical center.
The application cited the reason to redevelop the mall is because it “has been struggling for some time.”
According to the mall website in June 2021, there were 35 active tenants and 75 in-line retail spaces total.
St. Augustine Outlets featured mostly indoor shopping.
Texas Roadhouse proposes to build a restaurant on one of the outparcels.
It would be the chain’s fourth area restaurant. It operates in the Town Center area and Orange Park and intends to open in July in River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville.
Texas Roadhouse’s address is shown as 494 Outlet Mall Blvd.
