Goodwill breaks ground on Elkhart’s Neighborhood Opportunity Hub
ELKHART, Ind. — Wednesday marked the begging of a new chapter for Woodland Crossings, once home to the Pierre Moran Mall.
After six years of sitting vacant, new life is coming to what was once Sears.
The 109,000 square foot retail complex is set to transform into Elkhart’s Neighborhood Opportunity Hub thanks to a partnership between Goodwill and Heart City Health.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday as they began construction.
Mayor Rod Roberson shared memories of the mall, as Goodwill broke ground on its half of the complex that will bring workforce development services, a first-time mother’s program, and the Excel Center High School, which provides adults with their Core-40 diploma free of charge.
"We are just bringing the services, and revitalizing an area that hasn't seen a great amount of life in years,” said Debie Coble, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries Michiana.
Renderings show their plans to transform the retail space.
"Residents who need a high school diploma. If you know someone who needs a high school diploma. If they need any services, like nurse family partnership or second chance. We have a lot of services we provide to Elkhart and Northwest Indiana,” said Dr. Chris Albert, Superintendent of Excel Center Michiana.
Heart City Health will also bring dental, optical, and 24-hour care to the old Sears.
Mike Huber, Development Services Director for Elkhart, says this is just the first piece of their plan to build up the neighborhood.
"From a shopping center with a bunch of vacant parking into a mixed used urban neighborhood, we envision bringing a couple hundred new housing units to the space, repositioning existing retail, making it walkable, and bringing in parks and recreation spaces,” said Huber.
Goodwill hopes to be done with construction by the start of 2025.
The city said they will work on finalizing a master plan for the neighborhood during that time and are looking for developers to bring the housing component.