City of Southfield Buys 'Boy and Bear' Sculpture From Northland

The iconic "Boy and Bear" sculpture at the soon--to-close Northland Mall in Southfield is in good hands.

JC Reindle of the Detroit Free Press reports that the city of Southfield has agreed to pay $500,000 cash and forgive overdue property taxes to acquire Marshall M. Fredericks' 'Boy and Bear' sculpture and other artwork.

Had the city not bought the 1954 sculpture, it would have gone up for auction, the Freep reports.

"I did not want the artwork to leave the city," Southfield's acting mayor, Donald Fracassi, told the Free Press today.

Some stores, including Macy's have already closed, but the Mall is set to close for good by April 15.