Flooding mitigation on tap for Crabtree Valley Mall refresh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Crabtree Valley Mall is on its way to seeing a refresh, and some of the investments include addressing flooding mitigation.

The new owners say the work is underway.

The City of Raleigh told ABC11 larger pipes are being installed in the parking lot ot on the west side of the building; however, since the mall sits in a floodplain, it will still be prone to flooding when Crabtree Creek rises over its banks.

Adam Mottershead has seen his share of standing water by Crabtree growing up in Raleigh.

"Any time it lightly rains here, it's chocolate milk," he said.

Mottershead now works in the mitigation industry and said flood mitigation is overdue.

"Obviously, back in the 70s, the ideal thing would have been to put the mall 100 feet further away," he said.

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When the mall opened in 1972, there were different floodplain regulations. The City says the stormwater work is privately funded.

ABC11 reached out several times to the owner to see how much mitigation work would cost. We have not heard back.

The owner is also planning upgrades for the inside of the shopping center and parking decks.

"I definitely wouldn't mind seeing a spruce up just because it's been there for so long," said Raleigh resident Jillian Webb. "I feel like so many people hang out at it that it's just like it's seen a little better day."

"I like it the way it is," said Raleigh resident Dennis Strahan. "The way I think about it is that if they make those improvements, the prices are going to go up."