Following the 3/4ths majority vote from a couple years earlier, the final new city Downriver would make its mark by the debut of Taylor, under the leadership of Mayor Richard Trolley. One of his first major ceremonies as Mayor would be the July opening of Southland Mall.

Completing the “directional-land” malls, it was originally anchored by J.L. Hudson, Kroger and Woolworth & Woolco. It would be state-of-the-art for its time, with modern decor inside featuring four cascading waterfalls, a metal bar sculpture, a towering bird cage and a fish tank, both anchoring the corridor between the (then) east and west courts. The ribbon cutting in July would conclude the four year design and construction project and was very well received. The Hudson’s store in Lincoln Park would close and be quickly replaced by a Farmer Jack store, sealing off the basement and second floor areas, which have not been seen by the public since.