Rosemont outlet mall construction may begin in March
Rosemont officials could approve a redevelopment agreement and purchase contract with the developer of a proposed upscale outlet mall at a special meeting next week, Mayor Bradley Stephens said.
The village owns the property where the mall will be located, south of the newly-opened Balmoral Avenue off-ramp from the northbound Tri-State Tollway. Closing on the sale to AWE Talisman LLC, a Coral Gables, Fla.-based outlet mall developer, is likely by month’s end, and construction is slated to begin the first week of March, Stephens said.
The roughly $230-million, 550,000-square-foot Fashion Outlets of Chicago project is a joint venture between Talisman and Macerich, a Santa Monica-based company that owns and operates regional shopping malls.
The village board this week approved two projects for off-site sewer and water construction related to the mall, as well as a $680,000 agreement with Christopher Burke Engineering, Ltd., of Rosemont to oversee construction of the mall’s parking garage. The enclosed garage will have roughly 2,840 parking spaces and be accessible from Balmoral Avenue and River Road via Technology Way.
A public hearing will be scheduled within the next couple of weeks to approve signage for the mall.
“This project could mean more to the village of Rosemont financially than the (Allstate) Arena, the (Donald E. Stephens) Convention Center, and the (former Rosemont, now Akoo) Theatre combined,” Stephens said.
Meanwhile, work continues on The Park at Rosemont restaurant and entertainment district under construction west of River Road between Bryn Mawr Avenue and the Balmoral Avenue off-ramp.
The district — includes 200,000 square feet of entertainment, dining and festival space — is anchored on the north by the Muvico theaters and on the south by the future outlet mall. It will feature a recreational area for year-round events, including ice skating, farmers’ markets, concerts, fairs, festivals and exhibition sporting events.
Officials expect eight new dining and entertainment venues to open this spring, starting with the Irish Five Roses Pub, which may debut on St. Patrick’s Day weekend with the ice skating rink painted green for the occasion.
The Irish pub’s opening will be followed by the 22-lane King’s Bowling alley, Taverna Opa Greek restaurant, Adobe Gila’s Mexican restaurant, Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar & Grill,” The Park Tavern, Zanies Comedy Night Club, and finally, Hofbrauhaus beer hall by the summer.
The village board this week also authorized the purchase of artificial turf for $176,000 to convert the ice rink into a park for the summer. The turf will be installed between March 19 and April 1.