The Berkshire Mall, once a bustling shopping hub in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, has fallen into disrepair and disuse. Opened in 1988, it thrived until the mid-2010s, generating significant tax revenue that supported local services. However, the closure of major stores and the theater contributed to its decline, with the mall now in poor condition. Town officials are frustrated with the owners' refusal to sell the property for redevelopment as they seek solutions amid concerns over the mall's impact on local economics and community identity.
"There were times you could not find a parking place in this mall - inside, it was packed," said Timothy Sorrell, highlighting the mall's former popularity that made it essential for the town.
"It was to the point where if we had to throw a kid out of the mall, it was like we were taking away Christmas," underlining the mall's significance to the local youth as a social hub.
The mall, once Lanesborough's largest taxpayer, generated $2.3 million in annual tax revenue in its peak, showcasing its economic importance to the community.
As the mall sits unused, town officials struggle with its owners, who refuse to sell for redevelopment, leaving the property and surrounding area in limbo.
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