Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday approved a 10-year program that would offer a 50 percent tax break on increased value to the former Schuylkill Mall after it's redeveloped by the Missouri-based firm that bought the failing shopping mecca in January.

NorthPoint Development plans to raze the mall and put up two large buildings that could house a variety of industrial uses, including manufacturing or logistics operations.Under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act program, officials estimate the property would generate a total of $588,913 a year in revenue for the county, New Castle Township and the Saint Clair Area School District after the redevelopment.That's about twice the current revenue.From there, the revenue could grow to about $1.178 million a year, Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation Vice President Brian J. Hansbury told county commissioners last week.Accompanied by Schuylkill County Economic Development Corporation President Frank Zukas, NorthPoint Development's vice president, Brent Miles, spoke of his firm's plans.He sympathized with the loss of the county's biggest mall."It's never good, but this is the national trend with malls. So, we're going to take some lemons, and we're going to make some nice lemonade for everybody," Miles said.NorthPoint is helping the few retailers left at the mall to find new homes."We're trying to be very sensitive to the tenants that are there. This isn't their fault," Miles said.He mentioned the movie theater, which he described as a "big asset to the community."NorthPoint will allow the theater to stay through the Christmas season.By spring, Miles said, the "mall will be down, and by next fall, the new buildings will be up."Information given at last week's commissioners' meeting was that demolition would begin this fall, with the buildings going up next spring.The 800,000-square-foot mall, with 115 stores at its peak, opened in Frackville on Oct. 9, 1980.Empire Schuylkill LP purchased the mall for $17.6 million in 2007, but by last year declared bankruptcy.NorthPoint bought the now nearly vacant mall for $2.1 million.Commissioners have said it's sad to see the mall go, but they look forward to the economic development NorthPoint will bring.The firm has said the new development would support about 830 jobs.NorthPoint also has a building in the county's HighRidge Business Park that houses the Hudson Bay company.Commissioners' Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. praised both the firm and the opening of jobs for the county's workforce."We appreciate it," he said."The success of HighRidge really led us down to the mall. Seeing that number of (job) applicants come out for Hudson Bay tells us that the workforce is strong," Miles said."We appreciate the confidence you have in Schuylkill County," said Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier."We welcome you to Schuylkill County, and we're glad that you're gong to be a great business partner," said Commissioner Gary J. Hess.