Developers are considering replacing the long-closed Nordstrom store at the Mall at Wellington Green with 620 apartments amid ongoing shifts in retail trends that have troubled enclosed shopping malls across the nation.
Wellington-based real estate and apartment management firm Bainbridge Companies submitted an application to the Village of Wellington to demolish Nordstrom, one of the mall’s original anchor stores, and build a multifamily residential apartment complex.
The project will cover just over 18.4 acres, consisting of three seven-story apartment buildings and a new parking garage. Up to 1.5 acres of private recreation space will also be provided throughout the development, including a clubhouse with a pool, fitness amenities and open space.
The proposal was submitted on March 31 and is currently making its way through the Village of Wellington’s staff review. Wellington Planning, Zoning & Building Director Tim Stillings said that no timeframe has yet been set for public meetings on the proposal.
“This redevelopment is an investment in the property,” Stillings explained. “The future residents are likely future shoppers, restaurant and business patrons for the mall and surrounding businesses.”
If approved, the project will mark a significant shift in attempts to redevelop the regional shopping facility. The Mall at Wellington Green opened in 2001 at the southwest intersection of Forest Hill Blvd. and State Road 7 with Nordstrom being one of the mall’s five original anchors stores, along with 150 smaller tenants.
Two of those anchors, including Nordstrom, have since closed. In 2004, Lord & Taylor shut its doors and was replaced by City Furniture, with parts of it later converted into a movie theater complex. Nordstrom shut down in 2019, with the space now mainly being used for storage and seasonal pop-up stores.
The Mall at Wellington Green was one of the final major enclosed malls constructed in South Florida. Trends in retail real estate have since shifted more toward outdoor, walkable shopping areas. In 2019, just before the pandemic, mall operators proposed turning the Nordstrom site into a large-scale outdoor entertainment area. However, those plans never moved forward.
Originally built by shopping center developer Taubman, over the years, the mall has had changes in ownership. Starwood Capital Group purchased the majority of the property in 2014 for $341.1 million. While it continues to draw in consistent customer traffic and has retained most of its core tenant base, the mall’s property value has decreased substantially, in line with nationwide trends. It is now estimated to be worth about $70 million. This decline reflects the continued shift in customer habits that is fueling the growth of e-commerce over traditional brick-and-mortar retail centers.
Spinoso Real Estate Group, the mall’s current operator, is planning to reinvest in the property’s external presentation and focus more on lifestyle-oriented re-tenanting.
According to the application, developers see these efforts to maintain the long-term viability of the mall and the growing housing market in the state as a significant opportunity to move forward with the redevelopment. They argue that their project is a strategic decision to revitalize underutilized land to meet the needs of the evolving area.
“It adds value to a property that is already developed,” Stillings said. “It transforms dormant land into productive use, such as housing, etc. It maximizes existing infrastructure, boosts tax revenues and brings renewed activity to stagnant areas.”
The application also comes as developers from Related Ross recently received approval to transform 70 acres less than a mile away from the mall into a large-scale community and business center. That project includes a commercial district, residential areas and a new private school.
The proposed project remains in its early stages and will need to go through Wellington’s advisory boards and the Wellington Village Council before construction can begin. The project would require a master plan amendment to allow the multifamily residential usage on the site. Village documents from the developer explain that they believe the development complies with Wellington’s master plan and land development regulations.
Bainbridge is a low quality developer. This is the worst possible scenario. Rather have the mall sold to Related for a beautiful redevelopment rather than this trash.