County, city evaluating future of Blackhawk Junction Mall
The fate of Blackhawk Junction Mall will be discussed by the city of Prairie du Chien and Crawford County in upcoming meetings.
The east side of Blackhawk Junction Mall has been vacant for the past three and a half years, when True Value moved from there to its new location on Marquette Road.
By Ted Pennekamp
The court timeline has passed and Crawford County will soon be the new owner of Blackhawk Junction Mall in Prairie du Chien.
In fact, the county had a meeting on the matter, May 15, and another meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 29, in the Crawford County Administration Building. The meeting will involve the city of Prairie du Chien as well as the County Finance and Delinquent Tax committees. The city is expected to give a presentation. City Administrator Chad Abram said the Blackhawk Junction situation will be on the agenda for closed session at an upcoming city meeting this week.
Blackhawk Junction Mall, which has owed back taxes since 2014, owes a total of $488,998 including back taxes, interest and penalties.
The mall was purchased on Oct. 23, 2006, by Blackhawk Junction LLC of Madison. Blackhawk Junction Mall is located at 700 E. Blackhawk Ave., Prairie du Chien, and sits on 8.37 acres.
Blackhawk Junction Mall is the home to four businesses and there is space for several more. However, the eastern side of the mall has been vacant for several years and it is unknown if, or how much, damage there is on the inside.
In large part, because of the businesses that are paying rent, County Treasurer Deanne Lutz said Blackhawk Junction is the most complicated tax delinquent property the county has had to deal with. In addition, the county does not want to be a landlord.
In the past, tax delinquent properties the county has foreclosed upon, such as the Satter Building, were sold at auction.
