ELK GROVE, Calif. — Hopes to revive the long-delayed outlet mall in Elk Grove appear to be dead, once again.
Elk Grove city officials say the Howard Hughes Corporation has notified the city plans to abandon the Outlook Collection at Elk Grove and demolish what has already been built near Kammerer Road and Highway 99.
It's been more than 10 years since construction stopped at the planned mall after the original developer went bankrupt. For years, people have called the shell of buildings the "Ghost Mall."
Howard Hughes Corp. purchased the property but never resumed building. In July 2018, a representative for Howard Hughes told ABC10 the company was targeting a fall 2020 opening.
At the time, Darrell Doan, the Economic Development Director for the City of Elk Grove, said the company was having a tough time getting enough spaces pre-leased to move forward with construction. A leasing brochure from 2017 listed several stores that planned to open in Elk Grove, including Nike, H&M, Columbia, Guess, Express, Forever 21, American Eagle Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret.
An agreement between Howard Hughes Corp. and the city expired on November 21, 2018. Howard Hughes Corp. still owns the land, and it is still zoned as a "regional mall," but it is unclear what happens next with the property.
"The City did everything within its power to move the project forward, but all decisions on the development of the mall ultimately rest with HHC,” Darrell Doan, Elk Grove Economic Development Director, said. “While we are disappointed that HHC was not able to complete the project, we are excited for the opportunity to potentially partner with a new developer who shares the City’s vision for the site and its potential as a regional destination.”
ABC10 reached out to Howard Hughes Corp. for more information, but they have yet to return any calls and e-mails.
The Wilton Rancheria Elk Grove Resort and Casino Project, planned for the north end of the mall site, started drilling earlier this month for testing. It is scheduled to open in 2020. According to the city, construction for that casino will begin later this year.
“There were companies who signed leases at the mall who want to be here," Doan said. "Given this news, my team will do everything possible to assist those businesses locate somewhere in Elk Grove."
Several major restaurants are scheduled to open in Elk Grove in 2019 at the new "The Ridge" shopping center, located next to Costco on Elk Grove Blvd. New businesses include Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Noah's Bagels, 85°C Bakery, Cafe Rio, Farmer Boys, and Pieology.
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