JCPenney to be demolished at Spring Hill Mall in coming weeks

Site preparation for the demolition of the vacant JCPenney in Spring Hill Mall will begin next week, a West Dundee official said, marking the first step of the construction process for the mall's proposed $37.8 million renovation.

“That's the first phase. That's what really enables all of this to start happening,” Community Development Director Tim Scott said. “The new lifestyle format that we're bringing to Spring Hill Mall — it all has to start with this demolition.”

The JCPenney wing, including the mall's food court, will be knocked down in various phases over the next several weeks, Scott said. It will be replaced with an eight-screen Cinemark movie theater, as well as a new entertainment and dining plaza.

“The plaza will feature a number of new high-profile brands that we are currently in discussions with, and will provide our customers with a more dynamic one-stop dining and entertainment experience,” Amy Resch, mall general manager, said in a statement.

In the meantime, mall owner Rouse Properties is working to “keep things functioning smoothly” during construction, Scott said.

Though the JCPenney wing sits empty, several tenants are being relocated to various parts of the mall, as indicated by signs in their windows or in front of their entrances. Hot Topic, for example, is moving to the Sears wing. Additionally, the food court is not in operation. Some eateries, such as Subway and Sbarro, are in the process of relocating, Resch said. Auntie Anne's and Nestle Cafe are operating near the mall's center court.

“We are very excited about our plans to make Spring Hill a more contemporary and appealing destination for both the retail community and local customer base,” Resch said.

The design of the project is continuing to advance at the village level, Scott said. Earlier this week, the West Dundee appearance review commission passed refined designs for the redevelopment, he said.

The West Dundee village board will vote on the final redevelopment plan next month, Scott said.