What's next for the former Seneca Mall site?
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WEST SENENCA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The sprawling site of the former Seneca Mall has sat undeveloped, and as West Seneca Supervisor Gary Dickson put it, an eye sore for decades, but with new owners, Dickson is cautiously optimistic that big plans will soon be in motion.
The 55-acre site is a far cry from the days of the Seneca Mall. In the decade since the shopping center met its demise, the land has become an overgrown reminder of what was, with now only a Tops Markets occupying a small slice of the property.
According to Erie County clerk records, the land sold late last month to Benchmark Streamline LLC and NS Retail Holdings LCC. The two transactions combined came in at around $22 million.
Dickson said the developer plans to build a premier retail center with well known names, but did not give up any names of potential shops, the anchor store and restaurants. Dickson believes the proximity to I-90 will make the project a success.
“I expect it to move relatively quickly, yes, the town is willing to do what it takes to get all the permits, so there’s not going to be any real delay in that,” Dickson said. “I know there’s already been some environmental studies, so yeah, we hope we’ll see something built within a year, year and a half.”
West Seneca shopper Pat O’Brien is putting a recreation facility and a Costco on her wish list of businesses to fill the vacant space.
“So when Kmart, when they knocked that down, you know, Kmart used to be there, so at least you had the big store there, then when they knocked that down, it was like an eyesore,” O’Brien said.
WIVB News 4 was told that the current Tops Markets on the property has a long-term lease.
Dickson hopes the developer of the project will get on the town’s planning board agenda in February.
Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.