CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin says the city has been in discussions with the Hull Group, the owner of Charleston Town Center, about transferring ownership of the mall to the city.
Goodwin made the announcement during her State of the City address Monday evening at a City Council meeting. The Hull Group acquired the shopping center, which opened in 1983, in 2021.
Since then, the town center has seen three anchor stores, Sears, Macy’s and JCPenney, close.
Goodwin said during her speech that city officials have been in talks with the group for the past year.
She said gaining control of the property would be significant for the city.
“If we can take this under local control, we can literally begin the largest economic development project that we’ve seen in forty years, it will help us pave the way moving forward,” Goodwin said.
She said officials do not know what the town center will look like in five or 10 years, but she wants it to create opportunities, connect the city and serve the next generation.
“We need to immediately begin to work to determine what this space and place look like because of our amazing partnerships with so many folks in the city of Charleston and the state of West Virginia, we’ve had great conversations with folks who have done just this in other parts of the country and be so incredibly successful,” she said.
Goodwin said transforming the center will not be easy.
“But this type of change, let me not deceive you, is extremely hard work, requires enormous patience, good planning, good partnerships,” she said.
A news release from Goodwin’s office that came after the speech said, “Upon completion of the acquisition, the City plans to work with experienced developers to determine the future use of the property and guide long-term redevelopment.”
Earlier in her speech, she highlighted investments being made in the city and recognized those responsible for them.
She highlighted the Charleston Land Reuse Agency, which has torn down more than 700 structures for redevelopment, converted 500 city-owned streetlights to LEDs to improve sidewalk safety, created additional public spaces, invested in public art, and supported parks and recreation for children in the community.
She said the city has accomplished much.
“I’m so proud of all of these things that we’ve done together, this is not just me, it is we, city council members also did this they made this happen,” Goodwin said.
She also highlighted Poca Valley, which has invested in building a bank on Virginia Street East in downtown Charleston and continues to invest in its employees and customers. She mentioned TC Energy, which is constructing a $60 million headquarters across the street from the bank.
Goodwin said she is looking forward to 2026, when the city plans to spend $20 million on a new public safety center, complete $5 million in repairs and upgrades to firehouses and the EMS center, advancing the $25 million Capital Connector project, which aims to connect Charleston’s East End and West Side along the Kanawha River, and expand citywide road repairs to $5 million, which is an increase of $2 million over prior years.
She said city officials will build on the momentum from last year in 2026, thanks to the efforts of the city’s residents.
“This year, our purpose will be, as it has been, continuing to rebuild, renew, reimagine, reinvest in Charleston’s future,” she said. “Charleston thrives because we believe in each other, we have a strong belief in who we are and we are about.”