Empty anchor at a Chicagoland mall to be turned into mixed-use entry point

The Carson’s department store that has stood vacant at Yorktown Center mall in Lombard, Ill., will be transformed into a mixed-use portal intended to redefine the Yorktown Center mall.

The 12-acre property has been purchased by Pacific Retail Capital Partners, which intends to transform the space into an open-air, mixed use entry point that will include a three-acre park, multifamily residences, restaurants, and retail.

The El Segundo, Calif.-based developer designs its projects in-house with the purpose of unlocking additional value from traditional retail centers.

“Retail-led properties are at the forefront, providing a base from which mixed-use properties can emerge and flourish,” reads a mission statement on Pacific Retail’s website.

When it opened in 1968, the 1.5 million-sq.-ft. Yorktown Center was one of the largest malls in the United States. Carson Pirie Scott was an anchor and remained so--later under the Carson’s name as part of Bon-Ton--until it closed as a result of Bon-Ton’s bankruptcy.

Phase 1 of the project will include the demolition of the former Carson's building, construction of a multi-family residential building, and the creation the three-acre park. Peripheral building modifications to the shopping center will be made to create a connection to the residential units.

Construction is planned to begin in spring of 2023, with completion of the first phase expected two years later.

“We are in the business of transforming shopping malls,” said Pacific Retail CEO Steve Plenge, “and we saw the closure of Carson's as a unique opportunity for further redevelopment of the property in that it offers a vast space that is prime for creative re-imagination."