AMHERST, NY — The Amherst Town Board passed a resolution Monday night to enter into a redevelopment partnership with Benderson Development and pursue eminent domain of the Boulevard Mall.

Current mall owner, Douglas Jemal, is in the process of selling the 64-acre mall to Benderson Development. Jemal purchased the mall in 2019 at auction for a price between $25M-$30M.

Since then, according to town officials, the assessed value of the mall has decreased dramatically. At the peak of the malls success, the assessed value of the property was $91M. Today, that value is estimated to be $18M.

News of the mall's sale by Jemal to Benderson broke at the end of September.

"Once that closes, then the town will move forward with an eminent domain action on the entirety of the mall," said Town Supe

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