Former Richland Mall site redevelopment begins in Forest Acres. Here's what to know

Site work is underway at the former Richland Mall property in Forest Acres, marking the start of a major mixed-use redevelopment. The project will bring apartments, a Kroger marketplace, retail space and a new city park to the roughly million-square-foot site.

Here are key takeaways:

• The developer has started site work on the former Richland Mall property, where approximately 1 million square feet was demolished to make way for the new project, according to Forest Acres City Council member Haskell Kibler.
• Plans call for apartments on either side of the existing parking garage, a Kroger marketplace and 40,000 square feet of retail space.
• The city of Forest Acres is building a 6-acre park as part of the redevelopment.
• The park will include an amphitheater, playground and farmer’s market.
• Pen Branch Creek, which runs under the property, will be daylighted with a walking path alongside.
• Spring 2028 is the projected timeline for the apartments and Kroger to take shape, Kibler said.
• Forest Acres has been working closely with the developer to bring the park online at the same time as the apartments and grocery store.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.