The foam food that children used to play on and the big wooden chair where Santa Claus sat during his holiday visits year are items developers of Lakeside City Center could have sold at an auction.
Instead Leviathan Development, Out of Box Ventures and Lionheart Capital decided to donate the items to people who would appreciate the priceless memories they created at Lakeside Mall.
“It was an easy decision,” said Allison Greenfield, principal of Leviathan Development, noting while the items could have fetched $160,000 or more for the project there was much more value in gifting it away.
“We were very pleased with the donation,” said Jan Greulich, a board member for Bluestone VOICES for Autism.
The nonprofit group that provides financial and therapeutic support for families impacted by autism was the recipient of the chair that can be seen in thousands of photos with Santa at Lakeside Mall. Going forward the tradition will continue during an event hosted by Bluestone Children’s Center that not only benefits the charity but gives children with autism, and their siblings, the opportunity to have the Santa experience most kids get in the mall but in a more private setting with less sensory overload.
“As we reshape Lakeside City Center, our mission extends beyond transforming physical space. We’re committed to supporting our local community in a meaningful way,” Greenfield said. “By donating valuable materials from Lakeside Mall’s interiors to local organizations, we not only prevent these items from ending up in landfills but also ensure they benefit the people around us.”
A few weeks after Lakeside Mall was officially closed last summer, Greenfield attended an event in Sterling Heights that just reaffirmed the developer’s decision to donate the items to the community.
“People kept talking about the mall and what it meant to them. How they used to take their children there and how so many things in their lives centered on that mall,” Greenfield said. “What’s left now is still something that can have a positive impact on the community.”
That includes the items that were donated including toys and materials such as shelving, racks, electronics and other goods and the new project that aims to transform the mall and its surrounding landscape into a vibrant walkable town center. Lakeside Town Center will feature residences, parks, a hotel, office spaces, retail outlets, dining establishments and more.
“This initiative strengthens our connection to Sterling Heights and aligns with our dedication to sustainability and giving back,” said Greenfield, who is also the chief development officer for Out of the Box Ventures.
The following Sterling Heights organizations have benefited from Lakeside City Center’s recent donations:
• Befriend Church
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church
• Bluestone VOICES for Autism
• Fellowship Chapel
• Grace Christian Church
• Habitat for Humanity
• Heritage Church
• Hope Church
• Lifepoint Baptist Church
• Macomb Sports Group
• Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots
• Mobility Plus
• New Baltimore Goodfellows (No Child Without Christmas)
• North Shore Church
• Oakland University – Vandenberg Hall
• Rockpoint Church
• Sterling Heights Facilities Department
• Sterling Heights Fire Department
• Sterling Heights Maintenance Department
• Sterling Heights Parks & Recreation
• Stevenson High School
• Stoney Church
Greenfield said the initiative aligns with Lakeside City Center’s broader vision of contributing to the well-being of Sterling Heights while incorporating sustainability and community engagement into its redevelopment strategy.
“Lakeside Mall has been a staple and an important part of Sterling Heights’ history for nearly 50 years. We’ve been fortunate enough to receive some of the goods that Lakeside Mall still had in its possession, therefore allowing us to continue the mall’s legacy for many years to come,” said Kyle Langois, parks and recreation director for Sterling Heights and president-elect of Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks). “The goods and supplies provided will be repurposed and reused to support our day-to-day operation, and we are truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with partners like Lakeside Mall and the future Lakeside City Center to benefit our community.”
In addition to this initiative, Lakeside Mall’s public art, including monumental sculptures by Bruce Beasley, Buky Schwartz, and Fletcher Benton, will be repurposed in the new public spaces within Lakeside City Center, maintaining and continuing the area’s cultural legacy.
