A so-called 'dead mall' is being brought back to life and given a new identity with a plan by its owner. Innae Park has more on the future of Latham Circle Mall.

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COLONIE, N.Y. -- A full house packed the planning board meeting in Colonie Tuesday night as the crowd eagerly heard about the plans for the Shoppes at Latham Circle.

“When you get a fresh look like this, you're really excited. And we are too,” said Joe LaCivita, the Director of Planning and Economic Development for the town.

'Fresh' is not the word to describe the current Latham Circle Mall. Earlier this summer, the shopping center became void of all retailers, save three anchors: JCPenney, Lowe's and Regal Cinemas. Now, owner Grossman Development Group is stepping in with a plan to transform.

Vice President of Development Mark Hebert said, “We're very excited about this opportunity here.”

The three mainstays would remain. The bulk of the mall would be demolished and the newly constructed building moved further back, with an outdoor walkway out front for shoppers to enter each store.

When asked which retailers were interested, Hebert responded, “We feel we've made a good amount of progress with some tenants that we think will be business makers.”

Already in the plans is a grocery store, though the company would not specify which one. Hebert did say it would be from a chain that already has locations in Upstate New York. He also said they have received interest from a nationwide entertainment/restaurant chain based in Texas that could plant its first location in upstate New York at the Shoppes Latham Circle. Who it is has yet to be revealed.

However, it all adds to the heightened anticipation of the rebirth of a dead mall.

LaCivita sees it as a promise of more to come.

“I think Colonie hasn't stopped growing and we still have the capability to grow even more.”

Grossman Development Group will return to the planning board in about a month to address some of the concerns brought to them. They include the reduction of green space in order to create more parking, curb cuts and the impact on residential neighborhoods adjacent to the property.

The town planning director says he hopes that the process will move forward quickly so that demolition could begin as early as late fall.