A project to redevelop the Brunswick Square Mall is causing a rift in the local community.

Elected officials said the redevelopment will save taxpayers money, but some locals don't want to see the old space go.

"What we're looking at today is probably more people than you've seen in the mall in the entire year combined. It's not able to be sustained," said East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen on Saturday. "We can't expect an owner of property to continue to suffer losses and not want to contribute in a way that turns a profit on the facility."

Paramount Realty and Edgewood Properties, the companies that own the mall, announced the property will be renovated into an open-air shopping complex earlier this month.

"Many of the store operators haven't been paying rent for quite some time," Cohen told News 12. "In fact, last month we had to refund the owners of the mall a million dollars because we were overcharging them based on their rent rolls."

The East Brunswick mayor said, if there is no renovation, residents could end up paying the difference.

"If we have to give back a million dollars every year, then I've got to find that money. So, ultimately taxpayers will pay for that," he said. "If they do nothing to the mall, then ultimately, we're not going to keep doing that. We're going to have to lower their tax rate by a million dollars, which means that again, we're going to have to go back to taxpayers."

Meanwhile, a petition circulating on social media is asking the township to "reject any plans which eliminate indoor, common space that's open to the public."

In response, Cohen said the township will try to repurpose the indoor area of the property.

"Since it's now going to be more of an outdoor mall, the township is looking to work with the developer on maybe creating some sort of indoor recreational space for residents here."

Construction at the mall began on Dec. 15.

Several stores/restaurants currently in the mall will remain:

The owners said most of the stores that are staying will be relocated to new spaces. However, there will be several new tenants as well, according to the owners.