Alex Harring | The Detroit News | Published June 24, 2021

Harper Woods — The long-troubled Eastland Center shopping mall will be razed and replaced by an industrial site with 250 construction jobs and 560 permanent jobs, Mayor Valerie Kindle and NorthPoint Development said Thursday.

The announcement comes after years of decline for the mall as stores left amid the e-commerce boom and changing consumer preferences. Eastland has also been the site of shootings in recent years.

NorthPoint is under contract — but has not yet closed — to build three industrial buildings in place of the mall, totaling approximately 1 million square feet. There is no tenant signed on to occupy the buildings upon completion, but NorthPoint officials said their reputation and relationships will help ensure they will find occupants.

“Our history and our track record has proven that as we go through the construction process and the relationships we have with other tenants that we feel confident we will lease the property by the time construction is complete,” said Tim Conder, vice president of acquisitions.