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New Town Center Replaces Abandoned Mall in Clay New Town Center Replaces Abandoned Mall in Clay

By Alaina Losito

ALAINA LOSITO: It’s a project that is expected to bring jobs to many people and house hundreds of residents. As Micron Is coming to the town of Clay that means an increase in people and therefore a need for housing. County executive Ryan McMahon says this transformation is the biggest since Amazon came to Syracuse. IT’S A PROJECT THAT IS EXPECTED TO BRING JOBS TO MANY PEOPLE AND HOUSE HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS.

RYAN MCMAHON: This is going to be a scale that we probably haven’t seen and one that quite frankly will mirror really very successful communities.

LOSITO: It’s been years since the Great Northern Mall was thriving with business. But that won’t be the case for long. As soon this will be revamped into apartment complexes that are just a step away from medical facilities, entertainment and dining.

STEPHANIA SPANOS: I think that it’s an exciting opportunity and at the same time it’s a little bit sad that the other parts that the mall has pretty much gone out of business.

LYNN GARLIPP: Well, first of all, I was very disappointed when the mall started deteriorating as it did. But I’m hopeful that the new purchasers of the mall will be bringing in.

SYRACUSE, N.Y (NCC News) — What was once an abandoned mall will soon be transformed into a new town center. The Great Northern Mall in Clay is in the process of being purchased by Guy Hart Jr. for around $9 million. With this money he will turn this empty 120-acre eyesore into newly renovated complex with medical facilities, entertainment areas, and restaurants. Yet, these amenities will not be the only addition to the center. 

Once chip manufacturer Micron comes to Clay that will also mean an increase in population as more people will be getting jobs. This also means that more people will need housing. That is where this center comes into play. It will also include apartments and townhouses that will allow people to go from their home to these medical and entertainment sites just a step away. 

“This will be more of a blue collar to upper middle class cross section of people,” said buyer Guy Hart Jr. “So you’ll see a workforce union member who might be moving into Syracuse that’s working at the Micron project. They might be single, in his or her 20s living in one of the market rate apartments, and you’ll have a doctor that’s working in a medical facility on site that’s also living here and maybe his/her apartment’s a little more expensive. They’re living maybe down the hall from each other.”

Yet, Central New York residents have mixed thoughts about the project. Some people are upset about the mall finally being torn down as they have nostalgia associated with what it used to be. At the same time, some say they are excited for what’s to come with the new complex.

“It was very disappointing when the mall started deteriorating as it did, but I’m hopeful that the new purchasers of the mall will be bringing in stores,” said Syracuse resident Lynn Garlipp. “Hopefully some really good stores ’cause I do love to shop and some restaurants and maybe bring that part of Clay back up to where it should be. We are getting Micron in so I think it’s gonna be positive all the way around.”

This is such a new project that plans for what it may look like are not finalized yet. However, Hart says that in the next couple of months there will be an outline of the layout. Though Hart has control of the building now, the final purchase of the Great Northern Mall will be completed by mid-July.

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