By Holly Dillemuth, Illinois Times
Thursday, June 16,2011
A multimillion-dollar renovation is planned for White Oaks Mall beginning as early as late summer. Some say it could mean a boost in sales and property tax for the city of Springfield.
“There is absolutely no question that this mall has been an economic engine since the day it opened,” said Mayor Michael Houston at a June 6 unveiling of a plan from developers and mall owners Simon Properties to renovate White Oaks Mall and add a St. John’s Hospital Third Age Living Center for seniors. “And it’s not just an economic engine for the people of Springfield. It brings people in from all over the central Illinois area.”
The 12-month project will be the first major renovation since 1993. It includes modernizing the facility with warm colors, textures, and wood and stone for a “warmer, softer, welcoming environment,” says Maureen Bluhm, general manager at White Oaks Mall.
Among some of the new changes are hands-free doors, a family restroom on the lower level and soft seating in the food court and throughout the mall.
“Last year, 23 percent of the city’s budget came from our one penny share of the state sales tax,” says Houston. “Sales tax is something that is extremely important to the citizens of Springfield.”
Ward 7 Alderman Joe McMenamin is excited about the new changes to the mall, which he says represent “confidence in the regional retail market” by Simon Properties.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 