CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A roughly $150 million plan to redevelop the Myrtle Beach Mall, located just north of the city of Myrtle Beach, is moving forward.
The Myrtle Beach Mall is moving closer to a redesign to keep up with the evolving retail industry.
“This will certainly revitalize the mall, and with that, revitalize the tax base,” said Mike Wooten, president of DDC Engineers.
Horry County’s planning commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the plans for what would be called The District at Myrtle Beach.
The anchor stores of Bass Pro Shops, Belk and J.C. Penney would stay, joined by about $15 million in new restaurants and shops in open space.
“People just don’t seem to want to go to malls anymore,” said Wooten. “They more enjoy being in an outside environment like a Market Common-type arraignment.”
A boardwalk area for other shops, restaurants and a hotel would also be built along the Intracoastal Waterway. There would also be a designated area for outdoor festivals and events near the waterfront.
Wooten says a tough part would be utility work underground, especially right next to the waterway.
“It’s very, very complex to phase the work so that you keep everything moving while you’re tearing the center of the mall down,” he said.
No one opposed the project at Thursday’s planning commission meeting.
One resident near the mall says she hopes The District at Myrtle Beach will have better signs.
“We also get traffic where people don’t know where they’re going,” said Dorothy Baldwin, who’s president of the Briarwood homeowners association. “They come into our community and turn around too.”
Wooten says improved signs will also come with changes to some intersections and entrances to the mall area. The plans will need to be approved by Horry County Council.
Wooten also says if that happens, utility work could begin on the property before the end of the year.
