(WSBT) At one time it was a vibrant shopping center in Berrien County. Now, it sits vacant and local leaders worry it poses a health risk.

Matt Rouse of Niles has a Good Question: "I would like to know what is going on with the Eastgate Shopping Plaza in Niles Township?"

WSBT's Kirk Mason found out not much, which has some upset.

There was a time when the complex would have been buzzing days before Black Friday.

“Christmas was always big, and it was as big there as any store I've ever been in,” said Ron Sather.

Sather managed the JC Penney's when it was at Eastgate. He's now the president and CEO of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We have a very vibrant downtown,” he said. “So much has happened downtown the last three or four years, and South 11th Street.”

Shopping in those areas has shifted traffic away from Eastgate, leaving it as not just an abandoned eyesore, but also a safety risk.

“Vacant buildings are always a problem,” said Chief Gary Brovold of the Niles Charter Township.

The problems include people tossing large garbage items behind the building, water pipes breaking and people starting fires.

“We're trying to make our presence more known,” Brovold said. “We try to do more drive-throughs, through the area. We try to check on it at odd times.”

The best solution would be re-development or demolition. The California company that owns the site told WSBT News they're trying to sell it. But right now the building is condemned, unfit for occupancy. And its estimated demolition would cost $600,000, something Niles Township can't afford.

“We'll keep up with the property maintenance,” said Building Inspector Jeff Dunlap. “We would like to work with the property owner to rehabilitate the property if that's possible; we're not sure that it is at this point.”

So for this holiday season no shoppers will be visiting the plaza and that could be the case for many years to come.

The last store at the complex closed earlier this year.

The Dollar Store apparently had been doing well but a problem with the building flooding forced it to close.