Plaza Redevelopment Back on Front Burner

Tampa, FL-based DeBartolo Development in negotiations to purchase the Plaza, with vision to restore shopping center to its former glory. Evergreen Park Village Board praying for group's success.

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DeBartolo developed Ka Makana Ali`, a 1.5 million square foot urban mixed-use regional center in East Kapolei, Hawaii. DeBartolo Development LLC

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DeBartolo developed Ka Makana Ali`, a 1.5 million square foot urban mixed-use regional center in East Kapolei, Hawaii.

Credit DeBartolo Development LLC

Credit Chris Clair

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The Plaza appears to be on the front burner again with a new group eyeing the property for redevelopment.

Connect with Patch: Evergreen Park / Beverly-Mt. Greenwood / Oak Lawn

This time, it’s DeBartolo Development LLC, the Tampa, FL-based inventor of the enclosed regional shopping center which intends to pump $111 million into the aging shopping mall, that includes demolishing many of the existing stores.

Once a Mecca for Southland shoppers, the 1952-era shopping center at 95^th Street and Western Avenue has fallen on hard times and is a shell of its former greatness. Last year, a redevelopment deal fell apart when GMX and the Janko Group couldn’t get the necessary financing to purchase the Plaza from its owners.

Jay Adams, a development officer for DeBartolo, apprised Evergreen Park Village Board members of the firm’s progress in negotiating a deal to purchase the property at their Monday meeting.

“We first looked at this project about two years ago,” Adams said. “It’s in pretty bad shape but an interesting project. We’ve been very successful in being able to control the site and to now go after the kind of tenants this community would embrace.”

Adams said that DeBartolo hoped to close a deal in July, making the development group the Plaza’s new owner. DeBartolo is already in the hunt for quality retail tenants.

“When dealing with potential tenants there is a lot of confidentiality,” Adams said. “We are in conversation with Dick’s Sporting Goods and several other retailers on the same level of quality and newness we think this market needs.”

What makes Evergreen Park especially appealing is its close proximity to Chicago, yet still being surrounded by suburbia, Adams added.

“There are homes here and people are already established—retailers love that,” he said.

Plans are to turn the property into an open-air “human life center” with a big box anchor tenant surrounded by smaller stores. Offices and residences are also open for consideration.

Adams said the Plaza has a lot in common with a redeveloped retail center in Hawaii, the Ka Makana Alii shopping mall

Should DeBartolo be able to close the deal Adams said that demolition would move quickly, with the first stores opening within 21 to 24 months once construction is completed.

DeBartolo is currently in negotiation with Carson Pirie Scott, the Plaza’s long-time anchor tenant. Carson’s is staying but would close during demolition and construction.

“[Carson’s] would be closing that store and we’ll be tearing that building down,” Adams explained.

The plan is to deliver a parcel to Carson’s for its own construction, concurrent with the main construction.

“They can do it better than we can,” Adams said. “They what the stores look like and they have all their special vendors.”

Applebee’s would also remain in its current building. So far, the Plaza’s Lenscrafters is the only store that has expressed interest in being part of the new lineup.

The remaining stores would like to stay open for one last holiday season, “but we hope to be in demolition by December,” Adams said.

DeBartolo is also trying to set up meetings to see if Planet Fitness would like to stay, possibly enhancing the building’s exterior consistent with the new development's design.

Adams said his firm was also interviewing potential general contractors and said DeBartolo would use local union labor during all phases of demolition and construction.

“We had a group here last year giving us a nice speech,” Trustee Mark Marzullo said. “Money walks and BS talks. Is this a done deal?

DeBartolo was working with a bank and very close to finalizing a deal, Adams said.

“We know what tenants are paying in this market,” he continued. “There are a lot of moving parts to getting tenant agreements to pay the rents we need.”

“We’re praying for you,” Marzullo said.

READ PAST PATCH COVERAGE OF THE PLAZA:

What our readers say:

VIDEO: Making The Plaza Development a 'Destination'

Residents Dream Out Loud for the Future of The Plaza

Patch Reader: 'EPers Must Embrace Diversity and (The Plaza Redevelopment) Must be Upscale'

Residents Gear Up for Plaza Open Forum

What The Evergreen Parker says:

What Does a Sustainable Development Look Like?

It's Time to Make Your Voice Heard on What to Do with the Plaza

Poll Question: To Strip Mall or Not to Strip Mall?

Evergreen Plaza Plans Found Lacking

Potential Plaza Sale Presents Opportunity to Get it Right

The News:

Proposed Plaza Redevelopment Boasts New Start

Update: Plaza is Under Contract to Be Sold

Courts Appoint Receiver for The Plaza

The Plaza Faces Possible Foreclosure

Follow Patch on Facebook: Evergreen Park / Beverly-Mt. Greenwood / Oak Lawn

Related Topics: DeBartolo Group LLC, Redevelopment, evergreen park, and the plaza

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Tom S.

6:48 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sounds great!! I hope the plans include a great big Chuck E. Cheese, a K-Mart and a Jewel food store. An added bonus would be a Hooters, bowling alley and a skate park. Once completed Oak Lawn's crime problems will be cut by 80 percent.

John

7:44 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Hey Tom, maybe you should move out of Oak Lawn....

Christina clanin

8:51 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Oak lawn has all that. We should have our own identity instead of copying it from oak lawn. We're not far behind oak lawn in the crime either.

Larry

6:52 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Correct!

R Gibbons

7:33 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I believe the proper phrase was "Money talks and BS walks." I wouldn't call it appropriate to throw at a prospective developer though. Especially if your "praying"!

ep concerned

7:57 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Money walks and bs talks? Huh Marzullo? Why is this guy trying to bully a prospective group that is considering a major redevelopment? As far as the praying goes they have been doing a lot of that lately. Evergreen Park can't very much afford to lose more businesses. Ep loses more businesses and the homeowners pay more taxes. Something needs to be done! Big box stores get huge tax breaks and we as homeowners foot the bill. Who ya crappin?

ep concerned

8:55 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Bs walks allright. Right around April 9th

Kay

12:17 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sounds amazing! Can't wait to have some more great store to omplete this wonderful neighborhood. I was at the meeting and they sound like its almost a complete deal. Thanks to the administration for giving us EP citizens even more great shopping options. I won't even need to leave EP for all my shopping needs. Love this village. April 9 will just confirm the peoples support for this administration if the signs out there have anything to say about it.

Southside Supporter

12:36 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Tom S. was being sardonic by mentioning Chuck E. Cheese, Bowling Alley (103rd), KMart etc. The locations that he mentioned are places that Oak Lawn has had many problems with, especially the Chuck E. Cheese where it’s so bad that they now pay for their own Oak Lawn police car and off duty police officer to patrol at night. I think Tom would prefer an overall representation of Oak Lawn that's more like the shops at the Oak Lawn Town Center (Oak Lawn - 95th Street Metra stop), rather than the development at the corner of 95th and Pulaski (although, Longhorn Steakhouse is great).
I have no power or influence, but I do hold on to hope that the prospective developers of the Evergreen Plaza might incorporate the family centered community that surrounds the mall into its design. I personally would like to see an architecturally significant, pedestrian and environmentally friendly Evergreen Plaza that adds value to the surrounding area. The mall is a gateway to the City of Chicago and the Village of Evergreen Park; hopefully, both municipalities will have a seat at the table to provide input.

Southside Supporter

12:36 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Historically, developers have made the mistake of not reaching out to the surrounding community groups or leaders (outside of politicians). Politicians come and go, but the people will always have a vote with their dollars (look at the Plaza now). We support those who support us, that’s why the mentality/business structure that national retail and restaurants sometimes have of “You’re lucky we are here, now give us your money” does not translate well to this area. That being said, I have a better feeling about this developer than I did about the previous prospective Plaza redeveloper.
If Mariano’s move into the old Webb Ford space and the Evergreen Plaza is redeveloped in the higher caliber style retail, reflective of the surrounding area, it would be a positive game changer. Mr. Marzullo, pray for us all.

Concerned

12:43 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I'm very curious... Read this and lete know what you think are the similarities between The Plaza and the Hawaiian mall mentioned in the article. http://dhhl.hawaii.gov/2012/06/14/ka-makana-alii-first-tenants-announced/

Southside Supporter

2:57 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I went to http://www.kamakanaalii.com/ and was encouraged by Mr. DeBartolo's promotional video. I know that a 24-Hour Fitness Club (our Planet Fitness), Walgreen's, State Farm, Nail Salon and a McDonald's in Oahu is not exciting but underground Parking, LEED initiatives with emphasis on community and traffic concerns is encouraging if nothing else.