The bankruptcy case was filed by the owner of Crossings Mall in Elkview. The hearing was in regard to three separate motions, including one filed last week by the Kanawha County Commission.
During the telephonic hearing, the court held that the automatic bankruptcy stay would remain in effect pending an in-person hearing April 6 in Clarksburg.
At the April 6 hearing, the court will discuss the financing plan to build the new bridge that was filed by the owner of the mall.
Kanawha County Commission President W. Kent Carper said he greatly appreciated the judge’s statement that he understood the impact the case has had on the community and that he was grateful that the judge made clear his intention to move the case to a resolution as expeditiously as possible.
“Time is of the essence, and the county’s goal remains to have the bridge built and move forward,” Carper said. “I cannot stress how much the Elk community has suffered as a result of the flood and the destruction of the bridge at the Crossings Mall.”
Carper said today was a positive development and he is confident the matter will be resolved soon.
The commission filed a motion requesting a hearing and an update on the construction of the bridge on March 24.
The commission asked the bankruptcy court to provide citizens with “a control date by which to obtain a clear status as to the progress of the bridge construction and the restoration of the shopping center.”
The commission continues to receive calls on a daily basis from both the public and the tenants asking for the status of the bridge reconstruction and the progress on the repairs to the property as it is a matter of public interest to the community, according to the motion.
The Crossings Mall has been closed since flooding washed out the bridge leading to the plaza on June 23, 2016. Since then, nearly 500 people have been out of work.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia case number: 1:17-bk-00057