A partial parking deck sprinkled with graffiti, mounds of dirt, rubble and piles of concrete are all that remain at the site of the former Richland Mall.
The structure, that once stood at the intersection of North Beltline Boulevard and Forest Drive, was demolished last year to make room for what Forest Acres Mayor Thomas Andrews hopes will become the new epicenter of the city.
The completed project — still some three years away — is currently in phase one.
Mayor Andrews says this is the biggest investment for the area in the last 35 years. The city purchased a portion of the 30-acre site to develop a new park. He says it will include plenty of green space, trails, and stages for live concerts. And that’s just the beginning.
“Forest Acres is not your traditional type of city,” said Mayor Andrews. “We are always looking for places to have events. This will be that new place. Our hope is to re-center the city.”…