Listen Now: Morning News

No progress re-opening Elkview mall, and owner now claims DOH is responsible for bridge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An Elkview resident pleaded with the Kanawha County Commission to pressure the owner of Crossings Mall to make more progress to get it back open, five months after flooding washed out a culvert that provided access to the shops there.

But Kanawha County officials say they’ve received a letter from Atlanta-based Plaza Management, claiming the state Department of Highways owns the culvert and is responsible for fixing it.

“Which, frankly, is absurd,” commented Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.

Since floods hit the area June 23, workers and shoppers have been unable to access Crossings Mall, with its hotel, restaurants, gas stations, and stores including Kmart and Kroger.

“The situation does constitute an emergency,” Elkview resident Connie Arthur Nelson said, addressing the commission at its regular meeting today. “We feel like the forgotten people.”

Not only do residents rely on the mall for their everyday shopping needs, but its local economic impact is being felt — especially as holiday shopping season approaches. She specified that the Salvation Army will lose a prime kettle drive location without access to Crossings Mall.

“It’s not just a place for us to shop, but it’s the center of the community,” Nelson said. “It’s like we’ve sort of disappeared off the radar screen.”

She asked the commission to do whatever it can to make something happen.

“We’re appealing to you today to investigate what’s going on with the property owner. To bring the force of this commission to bear — whether it’s the courts or the owner or whoever.”

Late last month, the commission voted to issue a notice of violation to the property owner, said Andrew Gunnoe, deputy county manager. That’s what prompted Plaza Management to respond that it believes the Department of Highways should be considered the responsible party for the culvert.

A federal lawsuit was filed against Plaza Management in September by U.S. Bank National Association, which owns a $13.6 million loan that’s in default.

One possibility is for a receiver to be appointed to oversee construction of the new bridge.

“I can’t think of anything we haven’t done to prod them along,” Carper said. “The federal court lawsuit, I think, is the best remedy for something to happen to get it open sooner rather than later.”

He added, “The way to get that bridge built will be a federal court forcing the receiver.”





More News

News
MetroNews This Morning 3-28-24
Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - 6:25 am
News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm