The open-air "lifestyle center" addition planned at Augusta Mall is still on target for an opening next summer, an official for the mall's owner said Monday.
The company, Chicago-based General Growth Properties Inc., announced in the fall it would spend millions to build a 135,000-square-foot addition over the vacant upper level of the old Macy's department store and the adjoining parking lot.
General Growth spokesman James Graham said the anticipated completion date is late summer 2007. He said the project would be 180,000-square-feet, a figure that is larger than what was originally announced in October.
The basic lifestyle-center concept is still the same.
"It will create the look and feel of an open-air village with a pedestrian-friendly streetscape," he said. "It will really give it the feel of a village main street."
Mr. Graham said he could not disclose potential tenants. Company officials have previously said the property would be marketed to specialty retailers, restaurants and a big-box retailer.
General Growth, which acquired the 30-year-old Augusta Mall in 2004, said the renovation project also will improve the enclosed mall's 1.1 million-square-foot interior with upgrades to the food court, flooring and construction of a children's play area and family restrooms.
The company has not disclosed a cost but has said the project is similar in size and scope to the $65 million renovation project at Atlanta's Cumberland Mall.
Based on last year's announcement, construction at Augusta Mall was scheduled to begin early this year, but major construction activity has not yet occurred at the site.
Site preparation work has begun on another Augusta lifestyle center project, the 800,000-square-foot Village at Riverwatch, situated at the intersection of River Watch Parkway and Interstate 20. That project, anchored by Dillard's and Belk department stores, also is slated for a 2007 opening.
Reach Damon Cline at (706) 823-3486 or damon.cline@augustachronicle.com.
LIFESTYLE CENTER
WHAT: An open-air, 180,000-square-foot addition to Augusta Mall, to be called a lifestyle center. Pictured above are artists' renderings of the project.
WHEN: The project should be complete by late summer 2007.
WHAT ELSE: The renovations also include upgrades to the mall's food court, floors, the addition of a family restroom and a children's play area.
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