Fairfield Commons Mall may be demolished, rebuilt

This 46-year-old retail spot already has an entry on deadmalls.com.

June 24, 2014; 12:31 PM • by Eric Steigleder

Fairfeld Commons Mall is in the final stages of being purchased, and plans are to demolish the existing structure in order to build an open-air mall.

So says an article in Richmond BizSense:

The existing structure is just kind of past its prime. It’s a very tired structure, and it needs to be replaced,” Rector said. “The demographics are right and prime in an underserved retail area, so we thought it was an absolute home run from a redevelopment standpoint.

The individual quoted above is Joshua Rector, the director of development for an Arizona-based firm that plans to demolish Fairfield Commons and replace it with “300,000 square feet of retail space at a new complex dubbed Eastgate Town Center.”

Bromont Investments, the company buying Fairfield Commons, is based in Arizona. They acquire and develop properties, specifically retail and office spaces. According to their website, Bromont owns or manages properties in Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia among others.

It would seem that revitalization has been on the mind of both residents and developers for some time. Back in 2006, a post was uploaded to the website deadmalls.com, detailing the good (and not so good) things about Fairfield Commons Mall.

Here is a short excerpt:

The stores all looked rather healthy. Frankly, I was impressed…Structurally though, the mall is in decline. Just look up. The roof leaks are everywhere. In some places, especially abandoned storefronts and one particular area toward the…end it looks like the ceiling is actually coming down, or maybe already has and has been patched. I can’t imagine the mall has a big budget for repairs. I’d venture a guess that the grass-infested pavement in the parking lot dates back to at least the 1980’s.

And this writer isn’t the only individuals concerned about wear-and-tear. According to a 2013 post by contributor JT to the Sky City: Southern and Mid-Atlantic Retail History blog, Fairfield Common’s is in dire need of a drastic change:

…It is probably one of the most run down malls I have seen to keep as many inline tenants as it has and remain open to the public. Unfortunately, the small size and condition of the mall is not leading to any plans to keep it open, renovate or expand on it in its current form.

Photo courtesy of: Sky City