Vision For Southwest Center Mall Coming Into Focus

Dallas-based investor Peter Brodsky acquired the aging Southwest Center Mall in southern Dallas last year with an eye towards redeveloping the property.

According to The Dallas Morning News, the redevelopment vision is beginning to come into focus.

Agents and retailers that were in attendance at last month’s ICSC RECon convention in Las Vegas were even treated to a sneak peek at what the redeveloped property may look like. Brodsky has enlisted developers Frank Milhalopolous and Terrance Maiden, as well as architecture firm Omniplan to revamp the 40-year-old shopping center, and the group showed off renderings of design concepts that just may come to life.

For starters, a good portion of the aging mall could be demolished to give way to more open spaces.

“We are going to tear down parts of the mall and create some open space. It’s going to be a mixed-use project,” said Milhalopolous. 
Open spaces have been a key tenet of some of the more successful mall renovation and new shopping center development projects across the United States, so it’s of little surprise to see that concept make its way into the design plans for this project as well. On the mixed-use front, the development team has some big plans in the works in addition to traditional retail, and are considering several other components including medical facilities, offices and an education center. 
“We are talking to hotels too. We want to bring jobs and people and shoppers,” shared Milhalopolous.

While the concepts and renderings present a striking picture for the potential revamp, the team has stressed that full plans remain a work in progress. 
“Right now we are laying the foundation and formulating our plans. We had some really good meetings with folks and it got a good reception,” Milhalopolous said.

Brodsky has previously alluded to his vision for a transformative development that will enliven the southern Dallas area.

The development team gas their work cut out for them to deliver the retail, entertainment and dining destination that Brodsky envisions, but if the sneak peek shared at ICSC is any indication, the team will deliver a gem that will not only be the talk of Dallas, but could also serve as somewhat of a model for future mall redevelopment projects.