Work proceeds at the former Regency Square Mall in Arlington as owner Blackwater Regency LLC intends to put up masonry walls closing off the east side of Impact Church and the west wall of the closed JCPenney.
It appears to be a step to accommodate Lake City-based Blackwater’s intended demolition of the East Mall between the church and the vacant JCPenney.
The interior East Mall had been open from the church, which is a former Belk retail store, and JCPenney.
The city issued a permit Aug. 10 for Lighthouse Construction of North Florida LLC of Jacksonville to put up masonry walls to cap off the two buildings at a project cost of $180,000.
Urban Partners Construction of Jacksonville is the general contractor for the project at 9501 Arlington Expressway.
Blackwater intends to redevelop the east side of the mall and parking lot, starting with creating outparcels along the expressway and Monument Road.
It is rebranding the property it owns as The Nexus at Regency.
The city is reviewing a permit application for Realco Recycling Co. Inc. of Jacksonville for the East Mall demolition, including the structure, slab and foundations.
Realco intends to demolish 371,000 square feet of space, including the structure, slab and foundations of much of the east wing of Regency Square Mall, which was built in 1967.
The visible signs of impending work signal the start of parking lot demolition several months after the city issued a permit April 6 for site-clearing at a project cost of almost $3.7 million.
Fencing surrounds part of the parking lot on the east end of the mall where outparcels are being prepared for development.
Impact Church owns and operates its building, which is not part of the demolition.
The former JCPenney is expected to remain standing for potential redevelopment as an indoor self-storage center.
The West Mall wing remains intact for now. Blackwater owns the west corridor stretching from Impact Church to the former Sears store and the Dillard’s Clearance Center.
The closed Sears is separately owned and is for sale.
Dillard’s owns its clearance center, which is open six days a week.
It opens at noon Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at 6 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Monday.
Mall recap
Blackwater Development bought the bulk of the mall property April 9, 2025, for $19.1 million from New York-based limited liability companies associated with Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group.
Blackwater bought 960,162 square feet of commercial space, much of which is expected to be demolished and the acreage redeveloped.
It said upon the purchase that it would rename the property The Nexus at Regency and redevelop it with multifamily residential communities, financial institutions and nationally recognized retail brands.
The East Mall was developed in 1967, while the West Mall was added in 1981-82, and more space was built in the early 1990s.
The West Mall has long been closed. The last two interior East Mall tenants closed May 31, 2025.