The city approved civil engineering development and sketch plans March 26 for The Nexus at Regency, a permitting move that allows the developer to work on infrastructure to prepare outparcels along Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road at the former Regency Square Mall.
With those plans approved, developer Blackwater Development LLC can start to prepare what plans show to be eight outparcels from 1.1 acres to 2.25 acres at the mall property’s southwest corner.
Blackwater President Rurmell McGee said March 26 that the approvals mean his group can “take this next step in the transformation of the Regency Square Mall.”
“Receiving our permit represents the next meaningful step in our efforts to revitalize a distressed property into a vibrant mixed-use development that services the Arlington community,” he said.
On March 27, the developer applied to the city for a site-clearing permit at an estimated project cost of almost $3.7 million. Besch and Smith Civil Group Inc. of Jacksonville made that request.
The work includes asphalt removal, sidewalk removal, curb removal, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, water main, fire main, subgrade, base, curb, sidewalk, asphalt paving, striping and signage, the application says.
Civil engineering plans for the former Regency Square Mall initially showed seven outparcels along the front and a good portion of the East Mall to be demolished.
Blackwater Development and EnVision Design + Engineering LLC submitted civil engineering plans to the city Sept. 24, 2025, that provide a clearer look at what might be planned at the now 59-year-old mall. Blackwater appointed Thomas Duke Architect as the principal architectural firm for The Nexus at Regency.
Lake City-based Blackwater bought the bulk of the mall, while Impact Church, the Dillard’s Clearance Center and the closed Sears are separately owned and are not part of the redevelopment plans.
The mall at 9501 Arlington Expressway is at northwest Arlington Expressway/Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road in Arlington.
The mall stretches west to east, north of the expressway and Atlantic Boulevard, between Southside Connector and Monument Road.
The East Mall was built 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.
First steps
Blackwater Development announced Sept. 18, 2025, that it was taking the next step in the transformation of the property to launch the first phase of the site’s redevelopment as The Nexus at Regency.
The company said at the time it was submitting an application for civil engineering permits with the initial phase focusing on the front 11 acres along Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road.
Blackwater Development said the area is designed “to set the tone for the broader 77-acre project.”
It said the permits would encompass construction of new roads and infrastructure providing access to future outparcels; the installation of water, sewer and electric systems to service the outparcels; development of a new roundabout at the main entrance; and a landscaping plan.
“These infrastructure improvements represent the foundation of The Nexus at Regency. With roads, utilities, and landscaping in place, we can begin unlocking the front 11 acres and creating opportunities for new tenants to join this transformational project,” McGee said in a news release.
Previously filed plans had indicated up to 11 total outparcels wrapping around the southeast corner of the property at Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road.
Blackwater said previously that outparcels would be available for retail, bank and other uses.
Users for those outparcels so far have been identified in regulatory filings as:
Blackwater Development said in the release that it looks forward to announcing the first wave of tenants when agreements are finalized.
The purchase
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 Development bought 960,162 square feet of commercial space. Most of that space is expected to be demolished and the acreage redeveloped.
In April 2025, Blackwater paid $20,000 to the city to settle $1.92 million in code compliance fines that the seller piled up as the mall deteriorated with damaged ceilings, floors and other issues.
Blackwater has up to two years to comply with the settlement obligations or lose the money and face the resumption of fines.
One way to comply is demolition, which is what Blackwater said it intends to do.
Blackwater 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.
Litigation
As plans are processed, litigation is in process as well as Impact Church of Jacksonville Inc., which owns its building on the former mall grounds, filed two complaints since late 2025 in the 4th Judicial Circuit Court against Blackwater Regency LLC, Blackwater Regency Acquisition LLC, McGee, real estate developer Ramzy Bakkar, Xera Realty Inc. and Mustard Tree LLC.
The lawsuit accuses Blackwater of diverting a deal away from the Jacksonville church to acquire the property.
Eric Lawson, corporate counsel for Impact, said the church wanted to buy the mall property and began working with McGee in his capacity as a real estate broker for the purchase to earn a commission on the sale.
Impact Church alleges McGee breached the agreement by purchasing the property without the church’s knowledge.
McGee and Blackwater deny the claims.