A big change is happening in Hialeah. A group led by Codina Partners got the okay to turn an old Sears store and the area around it into a new place called Westland Plaza.
It’s going to have apartments, townhomes, stores, and parking garages, all in one place. The Hialeah City Council voted yes on the plan, showing that people in the area are excited about this project to make unused spaces better. It’s a big step forward for the city’s efforts to make things more modern and lively.
The Westland Plaza Project
Turning Westland Mall into Westland Plaza is more than just building something new; it’s about finding smart ways to bring life back to struggling malls. With more people shopping online, malls are having a tough time.
Projects like Westland Plaza offer hope by turning empty stores and parking lots into places where people can live and shop. This idea is catching on in South Florida, with other projects like the $1 billion Southplace City Center also in the works. It shows how mixed-use developments are becoming a popular way to give old malls a new purpose.
The Upcoming Future of The Florida Malls
What’s happening at Westland Mall is part of a bigger trend affecting malls all over Florida and the country. Armando Codina, one of the people behind the project, says many malls are struggling, and only a few strong ones will survive.
So, the Westland Plaza project isn’t just about one mall—it’s about finding smart ways to deal with a big problem. By adding homes to the mall area, Codina Partners and Centennial, the mall’s owner, are showing how malls can change to meet the needs of modern communities.
The partnership between Codina Partners and Centennial is a good example of how working together can make big projects happen. They’ve already succeeded with Downtown Doral, another mixed-use community.
Codina knows the area well, and Centennial has experience with malls all over the country. This teamwork is important for solving the challenges of changing big retail spaces. It shows how similar partnerships can change cities across the country for the better.