After several delays, the old Miracle City Mall in Titusville is going to be torn down as early as this month in Brevard County.

A new retail and entertainment venue will be built in its place, one which local leaders hope will create hundreds of jobs and help re-vitalize a city hit hard by the space shuttle retirement.

The property’s owners received the required demolition permits earlier this week and several pieces of heavy construction equipment are on the scene.

The owners want to turn the site into Titus Landing, a $60 million shopping center at 2500 S. Washington Ave.

Tampa-based AG Development Group and Exxcel Project Management, Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio, officially took over the land a year ago, with the promise to create approximately 800 jobs.

Since then, they’ve tried to line up retailers, a grocery store and movie theater.

Epic Theaters has announced plans to move into the new Titus Landing.

But this is much more than just a mall. Titusville leaders said it’ll be a town center and sign of re-birth for a city that has lost so many jobs and businesses following the end of the space shuttle program.

“It has been in such bad shape for so long that it’s really a bit of a morale boost, but from an economics perspective, it’s going to bring a lot of construction dollars in the community,” said Titusville Chamber of Commerce President Marcia Gaedcke.

However, there are some residents who said Titusville doesn’t need more shopping and are worried the project will flop.

Local leaders remain confident in the plan and will host a wrecking ball party in the weeks ahead.

Crews are removing asbestos, and by the end of this month, the building could start to come down.