Northridge Mall Boston Store demolition starting. The rest of the mall will follow

The demolition of the former Northridge Mall Boston Store is beginning − a precursor to the entire mall being razed to make way for new development.

The former department store's "exterior, structural demolition" began Wednesday, according to a brief Department of City Development statement. That's coming after interior demolition work.

Penzeys Spices owner William Penzey gave the former Boston Store property to the city in 2017 after his plans to acquire the rest of the mall fell through.

The city took control of the remaining mall, at West Brown Deer Road and North 76th Street, in January through property tax foreclosure after a five-year court battle.

The remaining mall demolition is to begin this year. The work to make the 58-acre site available for new development should be completed by fall 2025.

Meanwhile, the city has boarded up windows, set up fencing and hired 24/7 security to stop break-ins.

The demolition, and asbestos cleanup work is being financed with a $15 million federal grant provided through the American Rescue Plan Act. That grant was awarded by Gov. Tony Evers.

Northridge closed in 2003.

Department of City Development officials have long envisioned it as a site for new uses, including light industrial buildings.

A China-based company, U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group Inc., bought the former mall through its corporate predecessor for $6 million in 2008.

Black Spruce's plans to convert the mall into a trade mart for Chinese companies selling goods to U.S. wholesale buyers never proceeded.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.