San Rafael mall landmark nears demolition for housing

The clock is ticking for the Sears building at Northgate mall in Terra Linda.

Ghilotti Bros. Inc. of San Rafael is gutting the building in preparation for demolition later this year. The work is an early step in the multi-phase project to redevelop the shopping center with 1,422 residences, a town square and new shops and restaurants.

The Sears store was an original anchor store of the shopping center, which opened in 1965 as the Northgate Fashion Mall. The department store closed...