THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
Demolition Of Randhurst Set For Mid-Late August
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
With recent talks of redeveloping the downtown "triangle" in Mt. Prospect and ongoing litigation proceedings with the Ye Olde Town Inn restaurant, people may have forgotten that Randhurst Shopping Center will be demolished at the end of this summer to construct a new lifestyle center.
According to Mt. Prospect Director of Community Development Bill Cooney, design plans for the approximately $150 million project are expected to be presented to the Planning and Zoning commission in June and then to the village board for final approval in August.
Demolition of the current mall remains on schedule for mid to late August, said Jim Conroy, director of development for Randhurst. Conroy said the new lifestyle center is expected to open in spring 2010.
"We want the new lifestyle center to open in the spring so customers have eight months of good weather to shop prior to the holiday season," said Conroy.
The redevelopment of Randhurst as a mixed-use lifestyle destination will include enhanced landscaping and lighting, better traffic circulation and a wide range of new tenants. Sarasota, Fla.-based Casto Lifestyle Properties, which is heading the project, specializes in the development of mixed-use lifestyle properties.
The mall will be redeveloped by demolishing the core of the two level structure, leaving the surrounding anchor stores and converting the existing basement into parking for non-retail uses. Current retail anchor tenants Carson Pirie Scott, Steve & Barry's clothing store, and Costco will remain operational during the entire redevelopment period.
The middle section of the current mall will be replaced with an open lifestyle mixed-use center including 175 apartments and a 100-room hotel located above the new retail buildings, under the current proposal. The entire development will span approximately 1.2 million sq. ft. A new 18-screen movie theater will replace the existing theater. Cooney and Conroy said final plans are currently being completed to determine if the residential side of the lifestyle center remains "viable" at the same cost that was determined during preliminary design plans.
"We are determining which combination will be the most successful," said Conroy. "From hotel to retail to theater to rental apartments, we are trying to see which fits best from a cost and design standpoint."
Conroy also stated that parking will be instrumental because of its dual usage. He said parking will be used for offices during the day and entertainment purposes in the evening.
Conroy compared the future center, minus the residential aspect, to the current Deer Park shopping center on Rand Road near Long Grove. However, he said Randhurst will be "more pedestrian friendly."
Overall, there will be an excess of 100 stores throughout the new lifestyle center, including restaurants, Conroy said. "Hopefully the restaurant community will step up. We do have some signed letters of intent for restaurants that will operate business there, but it's premature to mention who they will be."
Conroy said an official closing date has yet to be determined.
Currently, there are 39 stores remaining in the mall, according to Lisa Blaszinski, general manger of Randhurst. Blaszinski said she took over for Tom Castagnoli who left in January to manage another development in Bolingbrook.