Update: Simon Properties Won't Re-open New York Malls May 16

UPDATE, 2:53 p.m. — Simon Properties will not reopen its seven malls in New York on May 16, as the company had announced Tuesday. Company spokesman Michael McKeon said the company will comply with all state and local orders and guidelines.

"I have spoken with Simon Property Group, and they have reassured me that their malls in NYS are not reopening on May 16th, despite guidance they released," Sen. David Carlucci said in a statement. "They said they are looking to work with the State so any reopening is done safely and responsibly. I appreciate their correction on this matter, as it caused some alarm in the Hudson Valley where we have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."

UPDATE, 12:11 p.m. — A New York state assemblyman says the Woodbury Common outlet mall in Orange County will not re-open May 16 despite information posted May 5 on its parent company's website announcing the re-opening date.

"We have been in touch with Woodbury Common leadership who clarified and confirmed they will NOT open in violation of NY Pause. They will only open as prescribed by law at the appropriate time," Assemblyman Colin Schmitt said in a news release.

According to Schmitt's statement, his office will continue to monitor the situation to ensure safety of all area residents. The 99th NYS Assembly District includes Stony Point in Rockland County and Wawayanda, Goshen, Hamptonburgh, Chester, Blooming Grove, New Windsor, Cornwall, Highlands and Woodbury in Orange County.

Seven big shopping centers in Long Island and the Hudson Valley were originally going to reopen May 16, according to a May 5 memo from the president of the Simon Property Group. That's the day after the executive order for NY-PAUSE expires, and far ahead of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to re-open the economy in phases.

On Long Island, the malls included Roosevelt Field in East Garden City, Smith Haven in Lake Grove, and Walt Whitman Shops in South Huntington.

"We hope to open on May 16," the answering machine at Roosevelt Field said Wednesday afternoon.

In the Hudson Valley, the malls included Woodbury Common in Orange County, Shops at Nanuet in Rockland County, and the Westchester.

Upstate, the company also planned to reopen the Waterloo Premium Outlet in Seneca County.

Simon Property Group had already opened 59 shopping centers in 13 states. Announcing the re-opening schedules, officials said on the webpage:

Shopper response to our reopenings has been very positive. Initial traffic has been better than expected, and at times we have had to limit access to our properties to ensure enthusiastic shoppers adhere to the social distancing standards outlined in our COVID-19 safety protocols (See video)

Moreover, to our surprise, many of our tenants experienced much stronger than expected sales over the weekend.

Overwhelmingly, consumers have relayed to us how excited they are to be out shopping again. With more and more stores opening every day, we expect our retailers will be able to take advantage of significant pent-up consumer demand.

Cuomo has said the first phase of reopening to start May 16 is for construction and manufacturing, plus supply-chain wholesalers and retail stores that offer curbside pickup.

He also has emphasized that regions must meet seven specific measurable criteria before any openings can happen there.

As of May 4 Long Island had only met three.

The Mid-Hudson region, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties, had met five. New hospitalizations for COVID-19 were at just under 5 people per hundred thousand residents, and the benchmark is 2.

Long Island and the Hudson Valley have been the hardest hit in the coronavirus pandemic after New York City.

Some regions of New York are closer to reopening than others.

Currently, no region meets all the requirements necessary to reopen safely and securely.

There is a lot of work to do. pic.twitter.com/OWaKHUeUUa
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 4, 2020