Developers pitch Provo Town Center overhaul, seek rezoning and HTRZ financing

Developers presented a detailed concept to repurpose the Provo Town Center mall into a mixed‑use, transit‑oriented district and asked the council to approve zoning and financing changes that would make the project feasible.

Robert Schmidt of PED Companies introduced the team and said the project aims to ‘‘turn the mall inside out’’ by demolishing the old Sears box, converting interior mall space to covered parking and street‑facing retail and adding multifamily housing and a central plaza meant for events and daily activity. Justin Long of Brixton Capital said the plan reduces unworkable interior retail and increases leasable, exterior‑facing storefronts.

The developers stated they have secured some anchor support — notably a portion of the Dillard’s space that Target has agreed to occupy — which they called ‘‘a first domino’’ for recruitment of other retailers. Justin Long said the final product would include about 110,000 square feet of new retail, roughly 100,000 square feet of commercial space and a 20,000‑square‑foot coworking component, trimming roughly 300,000 square feet of underutilized mall interior.

Much of the conversation with council focused on three formal requests the developers plan to bring back to the city: a rezoning of the…