Staff photos / Ashley Fox Construction for DeBartolo Commons is underway at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman. Washington Prime Group, which operates the mall, is seeking $6 million in tax incentives for the $30 million project. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in the fall.

BOARDMAN — Mahoning County commissioners voted Thursday in favor of a Community Reinvestment Area for the DeBartolo Commons project at the Southern Park Mall.

Next the “entire petition,” including the CRA, will be reviewed by the Ohio Development Services Commission for final approval.

Explaining the property tax abatements portion of the project, Nicole Kennedy, senior transaction counsel, said that Washington Prime is seeking $6 million, or 20 percent of the company’s $30 million investment. The DeBartolo Commons project is envisioned to include open space, a green area, new stores and eateries and entertainment.

Washington Prime will continue to pay any property taxes currently in place. The portion of the mall that will be abated is the investment; in other words, the new construction. Ongoing now is demolition of the former Sears store to make space for the new project.

“If we increase the property value, we will keep those tax dollars for a limited amount of time,” Kennedy explained.

In December, the Boardman Board of Education approved an abatement for 15 years, which Kennedy said is the maximum amount of time permitted.

Once that period is exhausted, all tax revenue generated at the project will revert back to “the normal channels.”

Also last month, Boardman Township trustees unanimously approved the CRA.

“This is a milestone for Mahoning County, it’s a milestone for Boardman Township,” county Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said.

“We need to have this business park here because it has a lot to do with the sales tax base of Mahoning County,” which in turn supports local and county governments, she added.

The Boardman area generates about 65 percent of the county’s taxes, with the Southern Park Mall producing much of that figure, Rimedio-Righetti explained.

Also present was Denise DeBartolo-York, who expressed her excitement for the new vision of Southern Park Mall, which was founded by her family.

Local business owners located in the mall were also on hand, giving their support to Washington Prime, calling the company “outstanding” to work with and “great” at explaining answers to questions tenants have had.

Lou Conforti, chief executive officer of Washington Prime, was present at the meeting.

He said that the company has been identifying what is needed around the country from an economic standpoint. Areas that include indoor/outdoor spaces are needed, Conforti said.

“If we don’t revitalize or invigorate … Boardman and places like Boardman, we’re screwed as a country,” he said.

During the course of the comment portion of the meeting, Commissioner Anthony Traficanti suggested to Conforti that if a Chicago-style pizza shop were set up at the Southern Park Mall, a Youngstown-area pizza shop should open in Chicago, where Conforti grew up.

Rimedio-Righetti added that a pizza cookoff could take place at the mall.

“Let’s do something fun,” Conforti said. “I’ll throw in five grand to a good charity here,” which was met with applause.

“Those are the kinds of activations” generated by partnerships, Conforti said.

afox@tribtoday.com