The City of Hoover has commissioned a market study to look at the possible redevelopment of the city sector which includes the Riverchase Galleria.

The study, through the Hunden Group, a Chicago-based real estate development consulting firm, was approved for up to $200,000.

Hunden Group was chosen from nine proposals.

Brookfield Properties, the Riverchase Business Association, the Hyatt Regency- Wynfrey Hotel and Jim Wilson & Associates are chipping in $31,000 toward the study.

The group is tasked with conducting several assessments, looking at the residential, hospitality, retail and entertainment markets, and coming up with a slate of recommendations.

In particular, the city is looking at what to do about vacancies at the property, good potential retail fits and potential redevelopment.

Mayor Frank Brocato back in January spoke about the city commissioning a study, citing the declining popularity of shopping malls around the country. The Galleria remains a thriving mall, he said, but leaders realize that change must occur for the property to remain relevant.

“Whether it’s shopping for groceries, clothing, home décor, these days, you can get just about anything from the Internet,” Brocato said at the time. “And while the convenience is great, the reality is – it’s hurting malls throughout the country.”

Hoover city officials have mulled over several plans for reinvigorating the Galleria, which was once the state’s largest retail destination.

The mall opened in 1986 and is home to the last Macy’s store in Alabama. In recent years, it witnessed the Thanksgiving 2018 shooting that left 21-year-old Emantic F. “EJ” Bradford, Jr. dead, and a 2020 shootout that killed 8-year-old Royta Giles Jr.

It also faces stiffer competition for shoppers from several retail developments, not just in Hoover but the Birmingham metro area.

At one time, the city investigated a hospital in the former Sears location at the mall.