Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

1 minute read

April 18, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

clsdesign / Adobe Stock

The mall conversion trend is picking up steam around the country. Now, reports Stacy Wescoe in Central Penn Business Journal, a bill making its way through the Pennsylvania state legislature “would authorize cities, boroughs, incorporated towns and townships to provide developers special tax incentives for redeveloping languishing shopping malls.”

The bill, which heads to the state Senate, was introduced as a way to revitalize underutilized commercial space that seems increasingly unlikely to bounce back as consumer preferences and land use patterns change.

According to Wescoe, “The legislation would create a committee that would provide guidance for the redevelopment of shopping malls. This board would be composed of members with expertise in areas such as real estate development, municipal planning, economic development and land use planning.”

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 in Central Penn Business Journal

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