CHARLESTON — Charleston officials have spent the past year in talks with the owners of Charleston Town Center about a possible transfer of the struggling downtown mall to city control, Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said this week.
Goodwin disclosed the discussions during her State of the City address Monday night at a Charleston City Council meeting. The Hull Group, which purchased the mall in 2021, has been in conversations with the city about the property, according to Goodwin, who also discussed the matter her State of the City address.
Opened in 1983, Charleston Town Center has faced mounting challenges in recent years. Since the Hull Group’s acquisition, three major anchor stores — Sears, Macy’s and JCPenney — have closed, leaving large portions of the mall vacant.
Goodwin said taking ownership of the property could open the door to a transformative redevelopment effort.
“If we can take this under local control, we can literally begin the largest economic development project that we’ve seen in forty years,” Goodwin said. “It will help us pave the way moving forward.”
While the long-term vision for the site remains uncertain, Goodwin said she wants the property to be reimagined in a way that connects neighborhoods, creates opportunity and serves future generations.
City leaders, she said, have already begun looking to examples from other communities across the country that have successfully redeveloped similar properties.
“This type of change is extremely hard work,” Goodwin said. “It requires enormous patience, good planning and good partnerships.”
A news release issued by the mayor’s office following the speech said that if the acquisition is completed, the city would partner with experienced developers to determine the property’s future use and oversee long-term redevelopment.
Beyond the mall, Goodwin used her address to highlight ongoing investments across Charleston. She pointed to the work of the Charleston Land Reuse Agency, which has demolished more than 700 structures for redevelopment, converted about 500 streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs, expanded public spaces and supported parks, recreation and public art initiatives.
“I’m so proud of all of these things that we’ve done together,” Goodwin said. “This is not just me — it is we.”
Looking ahead, Goodwin said the city plans significant spending in 2026, including $20 million for a new public safety center, $5 million for upgrades to fire stations and the EMS center, continued work on the $25 million Capital Connector project along the Kanawha River, and an expanded $5 million road repair program.
She said the city intends to build on recent momentum with the help of residents and community partners.
“This year, our purpose will be continuing to rebuild, renew, reimagine and reinvest in Charleston’s future,” Goodwin said. “Charleston thrives because we believe in each other.”
Goodwin also cited private-sector investments, including Poca Valley’s development of a new bank on Virginia Street East and TC Energy’s construction of a $60 million headquarters nearby.
