While the city of Manitowoc wants to do something with the former Lakeshore and Mid-Cities Mall properties, what it could become is still being figured out.
Mayor Justin Nickels says the land is still privately owned, but the city has gone through some legal processes, like razing and blighting the property. what can’t be talked about publicly yet is the city’s role in moving the project forward.
The common council approved allowing Nickels and other city staff to negotiate with the owner to try and purchase the property. He tells Seehafer News the property is desirable.
“It’s valuable,” he stated. “We’ve seen growth on that side of the city with the old Elks Club and the Bayshore Development, so there are a lot of opportunities there.”
He also says this should be a quick process, and the council should approve something by the end of the month.
“Stay tuned,” he exclaimed. “A lot of I think great positive news for the community for that property that’s been sitting vacant for a long time, and I think there’s going to be some great things happening there very very soon.”
The mall property has been sitting vacant for the last 15 years. The last store in the area was the Younkers store which closed in 2018.