Local

Miracle City Mall property could get new owner, redeveloped

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A new developer has offered to buy the Miracle City Mall in Titusville, with plans to tear down the near-empty mall and redevelop the property.

There's no shortage of space in the Miracle City Mall parking lot, so two brothers started detailing cars there today.

Thomas Moses can't remember the last time he saw the parking lot full.

"It's been a while, probably six to eight years. It's been a while," Moses said.

The inside of the mall is just as desolate.

All that's left is the JC Penney, a travel agent and a hot-dog stand.

A commercial developer based in Tampa is offering to buy the property, tear down the buildings and build a new open-air complex with medical offices and stand-alone restaurants.

A previous deal supported by County Commissioner Robin Fisher with a different developer fell apart earlier this year.

The current tenants have yet to be given any kind of notice. The property manager told Eyewitness News the
deal isn't far enough along for that.

"I don't see it happening no time soon," Titusville resident Lester Ross said.

Ross questions whether there's more to the problems here than just the old building.

"I don't know if a lot of the new stores are going to be better. Just because they build more stores around here doesn't mean (people) are going to spend more money around here."

Ross says there just aren't enough people with money to spend in Titusville to support too many more stores.

The deal isn't expected to close until January 2013.