The Shops at Circle T Ranch

[CTroyMathis]

Westlake mall plans showing more promise
Twice-delayed Circle T Ranch project could be complete in 2005

01/12/2003

By MARICE RICHTER / The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/denton/stories/011203dndencircletmall.6441c.html

Groundbreaking for a new shopping mall at Circle T Ranch could occur within several months, setting the stage for a 2005 opening, officials said.

"We are on schedule to begin construction in the late spring or early summer," said David Pelletier, communications director for Hillwood Development, developer of the 2,500-acre Circle T Ranch in Westlake in southern Denton County. The mall project has been delayed twice by economic conditions and other circumstances.

Hillwood and General Growth Properties Inc. of Chicago have teamed up to develop the mall, which will be similar to General Growth's Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.

The names of anchor stores or other tenants have yet to be disclosed, but General Growth officials have said the mall will have upscale retailers and distinctively Texana flavor, incorporating building materials such as wood and Austin stone.

"We're in the process of reviewing the development agreement provisions right now," said Trent Petty, town manager of Westlake. "We're very anxious to see this get started since it was announced in 2000 and delayed twice.

"This is not a great market for retailers, but this is a high-growth area that continues to add new rooftops," Mr. Petty said. "The mall will be in a great location, and we are confident it will happen on schedule."

But before the first shovel of dirt can turn, the developers need to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand and improve a private lake adjacent to the mall site.

The proposed development has already cleared several hurdles in the process of obtaining the permit, officials said.

The developers are planning to dredge Turner Lake, expand its holding capacity and rebuild its dam as part of the drainage improvements for the mall site, officials said.

The lake, which was formerly used for recreation, will also become part of the aesthetic appeal of the mall, said Russell Laughlin, senior vice president for Hillwood.

"The mall will have a resort-type look, and the lake will be very much a part of its charm," Mr. Laughlin said.

The permit is required because the planned alterations to the lake would affect wetlands and possibly water quality in Marshall Branch Creek, the tributary that feeds the lake, said Ken Laterza, regulatory project manager for the corps.

"There will probably be some mitigation involved," he said. "But the review process could be finalized and a permit could be issued well in time for a spring groundbreaking."

Dredging the lake will be the first step in the construction process for the mall, Mr. Laughlin said.

The lake improvements are expected to preserve existing wetlands and create new habitats to bolster the natural beauty of the lake and the area surrounding the mall, Mr. Laughlin said.

"Right now it's a dead lake that is about six to eight feet deep at the most," Mr. Laughlin said. "It will be vibrant and look a lot nicer when we are done."

The mall, which is expected to be about 1.6 million square feet, will be among the largest in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

General Growth purchased 120 acres near the intersection of State Highway 114 and State Highway 170 for the mall site.

E-mail mrichter@dallasnews.com

[gc]

Another mall in North Texas? Wow. I guess that area needs a mall to service the growing needs.

What is the mall count in North Texas right now? Does anyone know?

[JBB]

A quick scan of the Yahoo yellow pages shows close to 20 malls within 40 mile radius in Denton, Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant Counties. That doesn't even count large shopping areas like University Park Village or Southlake Town Center. Sure, a new shopping mall would be great in that area. We certainly don't have enough in this area.

[mikedsjr]

Just what we need. More Malls.:(

I'm really going to miss driving by that area everyday on the way to work and home. Its so beautiful there. I don't see the joy in looking at more concrete.

[mikedsjr]

If what i saw yesterday was what it will end up looking like, it will still have alot of open space and look very beautiful.

I still think there are too many malls. And some which need to be revitalized.

[freewaytincan]

You're absolutely right. And, to top it off, I read that just after the opening of Willow Bend, the Metroplex's mall count stood at 34. That is disturbing and disgusting.

[CTroyMathis]

Posted on Fri, May. 30, 2003

Perot's mall is still a long time coming
Dave Lieber commentary
Star-Telegram
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/columnists/dave_lieber/5976242.htm

The story of the proposed Westlake mall, a longtime dream of Ross Perot Jr., reminds me of the two faces of theater - comedy and tragedy.

Comedy, because the opening of the mall has been postponed for almost a decade. A grand opening for the dream mall is the longest-running joke in greater Northeast Tarrant County.

Tragedy, because of a recent mistake by Perot's Hillwood Development Corp., which owns the Circle T Ranch, where the mall would be built. The error occurred at a shopping center convention this month in Las Vegas, and it makes me wonder whether Perot and his executives learned any lessons from the 1997 "War of Westlake" between Perot and the town. At that time, the billionaire developer, when he didn't get his way on development issues, tried to dismantle Westlake. It almost worked.

But because everybody needs a good laugh, let's start out on the lighter side with the face of comedy.

When Star-Telegram business writer Andrea Jares came upon a display for the Westlake mall at the International Council of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas, she saw that Hillwood and its partner, General Growth Properties, publicized their dream that the mall would open by fall 2005.

Because I promised comedy, let me say right here that if that happens, I will shave my head and stand in front of the mall entrance on opening day wearing a sign around my neck that says, "Perot was right. I am a dunce."

But what are the chances? Because this all relates to a Vegas convention, I'm playing the odds.

I searched this newspaper's archives and found the previous comments by Hillwood and General Growth officials about projected mall openings:

"Hopes to open in 1998" - Aug. 11, 1995

"Could be open by 2002" - July 29, 1998

"By 2003" - May 22, 1999

"By 2004 or 2005" - Jan. 21, 2002

"Now slated for fall 2005" at which time columnist Dave Lieber will shave his head and admit that he is a dunce. (Italics added by me for comedy.) - June 24, 2002

OK, stop laughing (unless you are a Hillwood official and you did not find the above funny). Now let's turn to the more serious face of tragedy.

Remember how in 1997, Perot and his executive corps of hard-chargers became so furious at Westlake's government leaders - specifically Mayor Scott Bradley - that they tried to destroy the town?

The heart of the dispute, I believe, stemmed from Perot's request for a suspension of zoning laws so his company could build what it wanted without municipal approval. But what's the point of having a town if you can't regulate development? In this case, Perot's initial plan called for something close to 50,000 new residents. Townsfolk, numbering little more than 200, went into shock.

A majority of renegade aldermen temporarily removed Bradley from office in a kangaroo court, but that decision was reversed by a higher court. While that was going on, a Perot lawyer presided over the dismantling of the town's land parcels by directing a mass disannexation of properties that left Westlake in tatters.

Bradley's temporary replacement as mayor announced that Westlake was now "Perot-Town." Perot's Circle T was set to become part of Fort Worth. And development was supposed to take off. But a year or so later, all of that was reversed, Bradley got his job back and the story had a happy ending when everyone agreed to work together.

So my point in this retelling is that if ever there were one town where history dictated that the major developing corporation should go out of its way to get proper zoning approval before making public announcements about future development plans, it is the Hillwood operation in Westlake.

But that didn't happen.

According to town officials, the day before the Las Vegas convention, Hillwood faxed to the town two pages that consisted of a drawing of the latest rendition of the mall. It wasn't a detailed site plan, just an artist's drawing.

The drawing showed that the mall had been moved from the west side of the ranch to the east side and that the configuration faced north-south instead of east-west.

Not minor changes. But a one-page artistic drawing is not a formal submission of development plans, especially when zoning changes are required. It was another dream for the dream mall.

Hillwood dissed Westlake. Again. Yet town officials are diplomatic about the latest setback. Mayor Bradley says the Board of Aldermen will have to be convinced that approval of the zoning changes is the right thing. Town Manager Trent Petty says he warned Hillwood to show the town much more detailed plans before the Vegas convention, but Hillwood didn't follow his advice.

Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier told me that I am making a mistake by dredging up the town's troubled history with Hillwood. But in this case, somebody needs to do that.

In recent projects, such as road improvements, construction of a water pumping station and quality land development, Pelletier told me, "Hillwood has come through in spades. And we're working on this issue. If you want to go back all the way, you can, but I don't think it's right. You've got to look at the recent history - what's going on now."

Petty told me the entire incident was "embarrassing" and also "economically damaging because plans get made based on what people say is going to happen."

The town manager added, "I believe in the mall and want it to happen, but I want it to happen in concrete terms. I want to see a start date. I want to see a groundbreaking. I want to see a bulldozer starting to move dirt. When I see that, I'll know we're serious, and we're going to build it."

In the meantime, I expect to keep my graying curly hair well past fall 2005.

[mikedsjr]

This is such a beautiful area that i am glad not much has happened here.

[aceplace]

You know, what's to keep Perot from hiring a thousand panhandlers to take up legal residence in Westlake and vote his way?

Perfect - a solution for the homeless problem that accommodates the rich.

[Kelley USA]

This is from the Star-Telegram (Dave Leiber):

The story of the proposed Westlake mall, a longtime dream of Ross Perot Jr., reminds me of the two faces of theater - comedy and tragedy.

Comedy, because the opening of the mall has been postponed for almost a decade. A grand opening for the dream mall is the longest-running joke in greater Northeast Tarrant County.

Tragedy, because of a recent mistake by Perot's Hillwood Development Corp., which owns the Circle T Ranch, where the mall would be built. The error occurred at a shopping center convention this month in Las Vegas, and it makes me wonder whether Perot and his executives learned any lessons from the 1997 "War of Westlake" between Perot and the town. At that time, the billionaire developer, when he didn't get his way on development issues, tried to dismantle Westlake. It almost worked.

But because everybody needs a good laugh, let's start out on the lighter side with the face of comedy.

When Star-Telegram business writer Andrea Jares came upon a display for the Westlake mall at the International Council of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas, she saw that Hillwood and its partner, General Growth Properties, publicized their dream that the mall would open by fall 2005.

Because I promised comedy, let me say right here that if that happens, I will shave my head and stand in front of the mall entrance on opening day wearing a sign around my neck that says, "Perot was right. I am a dunce."

But what are the chances? Because this all relates to a Vegas convention, I'm playing the odds.

I searched this newspaper's archives and found the previous comments by Hillwood and General Growth officials about projected mall openings:

"Hopes to open in 1998" - Aug. 11, 1995

"Could be open by 2002" - July 29, 1998

"By 2003" - May 22, 1999

"By 2004 or 2005" - Jan. 21, 2002

"Now slated for fall 2005" at which time columnist Dave Lieber will shave his head and admit that he is a dunce. (Italics added by me for comedy.) - June 24, 2002

OK, stop laughing (unless you are a Hillwood official and you did not find the above funny). Now let's turn to the more serious face of tragedy.

Remember how in 1997, Perot and his executive corps of hard-chargers became so furious at Westlake's government leaders - specifically Mayor Scott Bradley - that they tried to destroy the town?

The heart of the dispute, I believe, stemmed from Perot's request for a suspension of zoning laws so his company could build what it wanted without municipal approval. But what's the point of having a town if you can't regulate development? In this case, Perot's initial plan called for something close to 50,000 new residents. Townsfolk, numbering little more than 200, went into shock.

A majority of renegade aldermen temporarily removed Bradley from office in a kangaroo court, but that decision was reversed by a higher court. While that was going on, a Perot lawyer presided over the dismantling of the town's land parcels by directing a mass disannexation of properties that left Westlake in tatters.

Bradley's temporary replacement as mayor announced that Westlake was now "Perot-Town." Perot's Circle T was set to become part of Fort Worth. And development was supposed to take off. But a year or so later, all of that was reversed, Bradley got his job back and the story had a happy ending when everyone agreed to work together.

So my point in this retelling is that if ever there were one town where history dictated that the major developing corporation should go out of its way to get proper zoning approval before making public announcements about future development plans, it is the Hillwood operation in Westlake.

But that didn't happen.

According to town officials, the day before the Las Vegas convention, Hillwood faxed to the town two pages that consisted of a drawing of the latest rendition of the mall. It wasn't a detailed site plan, just an artist's drawing.

The drawing showed that the mall had been moved from the west side of the ranch to the east side and that the configuration faced north-south instead of east-west.

Not minor changes. But a one-page artistic drawing is not a formal submission of development plans, especially when zoning changes are required. It was another dream for the dream mall.

Hillwood dissed Westlake. Again. Yet town officials are diplomatic about the latest setback. Mayor Bradley says the Board of Aldermen will have to be convinced that approval of the zoning changes is the right thing. Town Manager Trent Petty says he warned Hillwood to show the town much more detailed plans before the Vegas convention, but Hillwood didn't follow his advice.

Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier told me that I am making a mistake by dredging up the town's troubled history with Hillwood. But in this case, somebody needs to do that.

In recent projects, such as road improvements, construction of a water pumping station and quality land development, Pelletier told me, "Hillwood has come through in spades. And we're working on this issue. If you want to go back all the way, you can, but I don't think it's right. You've got to look at the recent history - what's going on now."

Petty told me the entire incident was "embarrassing" and also "economically damaging because plans get made based on what people say is going to happen."

The town manager added, "I believe in the mall and want it to happen, but I want it to happen in concrete terms. I want to see a start date. I want to see a groundbreaking. I want to see a bulldozer starting to move dirt. When I see that, I'll know we're serious, and we're going to build it."

In the meantime, I expect to keep my graying curly hair well past fall 2005.

[procyon88]

Westlake receives mall plans


WESTLAKE - Hillwood and General Growth Properties have submitted zoning plans for a super-regional mall to the town of Westlake and hope to break ground in late summer or early fall.

Hillwood, the developer of Alliance, and General Growth, a national shopping-center developer, have talked about building a giant mall at Circle T Ranch for almost a decade. But submission of the zoning request Thursday is the first official step they've taken, putting them on track for a possible 2006 opening.

"We finally have a public case on the mall," said Trent Petty, Westlake's town manager. "It's been cussed and discussed for coming up on seven years now."

The developers are asking the Board of Aldermen to allow construction of the mall on the east side of the lake, rather than the west side as had been planned.

In the late 1990s, Hillwood had made plans with the city to build a much different mixed-use development on the west side of the lake. A Hillwood spokesman said Monday that the east side fits better with the plans they and General Growth have for the mall.

"Access is a big reason, and it fit in better in the overall plan of the Circle T Ranch," Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier said.

Westlake's Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to hear the case on Feb. 26; the Board of Aldermen is expected to hear it on March 8.

"This would give them the ability to start this in the summer if they want to," Petty said.

Pelletier said the developers are aiming for a potential opening in fall 2006. "Right now the time frame is to break ground in August or September," Pelletier said.

In a quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission in November, Chicago-based General Growth also said it planned a 2006 opening.

The mall would have 1.3 million square feet and have up to nine anchor stores, according to the SEC filing. The developers have said that it would include a movie theater, a skating rink and national tenants.

According to the SEC filing, the mall would be built on 200 acres as part of planned development that would include a resort hotel, a golf course, luxury houses and corporate offices.

No potential tenants have been named for the mall, but General Growth listed Dillard's and Foley's in a marketing poster at the 2003 International Council of Shopping Centers conference in May in Las Vegas.

The mall would be one of the largest in the area, according to the initial plans, behind North East Mall in Hurst (1.7 million square feet), the Parks at Arlington (1.6 million square feet) and Grapevine Mills (1.5 million square feet).

Sally Michalak, president of the Northwest Metroport Chamber of Commerce, which includes Westlake, said that the newly opened section of Texas 114 near the planned mall will improve access.

"Now that 114 is open, the access for the mall is going to be fantastic and people can come from a very wide area," Michalak said.

Across the road from the mall site, in Trophy Club, Mayor Scott Smith said local developers have been talking more about the mall project recently as it appeared to move closer to reality.

"I guess the word spreads pretty quickly," he said.

The developers had originally talked about the mall opening in 2003, but over the years the date was gradually pushed back. In May, the opening date was tentatively set for fall 2005.

The zoning and permitting process is not cheap, Petty said, so starting the process is generally a good sign that developers are serious about their plans.

Petty said town officials will be discussing the effect of moving the mall to the east side of the lake but that, at first glance, it appears to be a better location than the previous proposal.

Hillwood, which bought the Circle T Ranch in 1993, submitted rezoning plans for the entire ranch in July 1998 that included a town-square-style development on the west side of the lake, with a town hall, corporate offices and a large mall.

The new proposal, Petty said, has a more open-air, pedestrian-friendly feel than the "race track" style typical of most malls. The plans submitted last week reflect a more modern style that is more typical of future generations of shopping centers, he said.

"I think the retail downturn of the late 1990s and early 2000s gave people pause as to what retail patterns should emerge," Petty said

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/business/7917998.htm

[gc]

Circle T Ranch mall to get Dillard's, Foley's
Daniel C. Bartel - Staff writer
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2004/05/17/daily29.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Department store chains Dillard's and Foley's and movie theater chain AMC Theaters on Thursday announced their commitment to become anchor tenants at the much-anticipated regional mall that's been in the planning stages for several years at Hillwood's Circle T Ranch in Westlake.

General Growth made the announcements Thursday, also providing a name for the mall -- The Shops at Circle T Ranch.

"General Growth Properties is pleased to be able to announce commitments from these outstanding anchor tenants," said Bill Moston, vice president of development for General Growth. The mall will cover 1 million square feet on 130 acres of pristine farm and ranch land near the Tarrant and Denton county border. The ranch is owned by Hillwood, a Ross Perot Jr. company that oversees the sprawling Alliance industrial development that surrounds Fort Worth Alliance Airport.

In addition to the key anchors announced Thursday, the mall also will be home to smaller retailers, specialty boutiques, restaurants and entertainment shops. General Growth plans to break ground on the retail center in late 2004. Officials expect construction to be complete sometime in 2006. General Growth is partnering with Hillwood on the design and construction, said Dave Pelletier, a Hillwood spokesman.

"Both groups are working very closely together," Pelletier said. "General Growth will manage the facility once it's built." The Shops at Circle T Ranch will be south of State Highway 114, between Westlake Parkway and Trophy Lake Drive on the east side of Lake Turner, Pelletier said. Hillwood and General Growth officials agreed as early as 1999 to develop the regional mall at the ranch, but the project suffered delays as General Growth searched for anchor tenants.

The mall is considered one of the key ingredients in the development of the 2,500-acre ranch, which is currently home to Fidelity Investments, DaimlerChrysler and Vaquero, an upscale residential development. In 2003, the city of Westlake approved developers' rezoning application to build the mall on the east side of the lake instead of the west as originally planned, Pelletier said. Growth and demographics of the area point to demand for an upscale retail center, said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties.

The tenant mix will be similar to the Galleria and NorthPark Center in Dallas, he said.

[Kelley USA]

I wonder if this mall will have the same impact that Stonebriar has had on Frisco... Good find gc!

[tamtagon]

I wish there was a Dillards and Foley's downtown.

[JBB]

Wow. What an orignal name. :rolleyes:

[mikedsjr]

That's not original enough.

I think it should be called:

"The Shops in an area called Circle T Ranch in Westlake north of Fort Worth"

[gc]

I wish there was a Dillards and Foley's downtown.

Me too!

[gc]

Wow. What an orignal name. :rolleyes:

Yeah...lamo!

[gc]

That's not original enough.

I think it should be called:

"The Shops in an area called Circle T Ranch in Westlake north of Fort Worth"

LOL...Good one Mike...a name as silly as that would be reserved for Dallas pal...

[Kelley USA]

Agreed- the name pretty much sucks!

[Kelley USA]

More from the Star-Telegram...

WESTLAKE - A million-square-foot shopping center with anchors Foley's and Dillard's, is expected to start construction later this year, the developers said Thursday.

The shopping center is expected to open by 2006, according to Alliance developer Hillwood Development and mall developer giant General Growth Properties.

The mall, on the east side of Lake Turner in Westlake, will also include an AMC Theater. General Growth Properties is in negotiations with two other anchors for the site.

The regional mall, to be known as The Shops at Circle T Ranch, will have a resort style with an open air style of shopping center and a promenade near the lake.

"Circle T Ranch will be unlike any destination in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. We will provide the best retail, dining and entertainment the industry has to offer, while displaying breathtaking views of the site's unique landscape and honoring the heritage of Texas architecture," said Bill Moston, vice president of development for General Growth Properties, in a statement.

Dillard's and Foley's have been discussed as possible anchors since at least last May, when they were presented as anchors in information related to the mall at last year's International Council of Shopping Centers conference in Las Vegas.

General Growth Properties and Hillwood have had a partnership for the mall since 1995. At the time, they expected the mall to be built in three years.

The developers submitted zoning plans to the Town of Westlake in February.

[gc]

Well, I can't wait to see this thing.

I am not dogging Fort Worth here at all because I know it happens in Dallas too, but this quote...


Circle T Ranch will be unlike any destination in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. We will provide the best retail, dining and entertainment the industry has to offer...

....is so cliche....everybody says that will every new development.

I wish the best for the "The Shops of Westlake in Circle T Ranchhouse near Alliance and TMS". The folks up there deserve good shopping.

[MustangMonkey]

Well, I can't wait to see this thing.

I am not dogging Fort Worth here at all because I know it happens in Dallas too, but this quote...



....is so cliche....everybody says that will every new development.

I wish the best for the "The Shops of Westlake in Circle T Ranchhouse near Alliance and TMS". The folks up there deserve good shopping.

Agreed, it's always beond amazement, we must all go see "The Shops of Westlake in Circle T Ranchhouse near Alliance and TMS Castlebend woodlake Deerun"

BTW hasen't "The shops at" officially changed to "The struggling shops at" in honor of that other shops at place, you know the place you are supposed to shop at, but not enough people shop at, but should shop at because it is the grandest and most unbelievable place to shop at.

[mikedsjr]

I am not dogging Fort Worth here at all because I know it happens in Dallas too, but this quote...
....is so cliche....everybody says that will every new development.

Not this one. This one really will be. It will be the first mall ever to have Foley's and Dillard's and AMC. It will be built of the best cement from Middlothian that an American can buy. It will have state of the art steel. There will be patrolmen on cows. When you enter the doors of the mall it will see "YeeeeHAAAHH! Welcome to The Shops of Westlake in Circle T Ranchhouse near Alliance and TMS Castlebend woodlake Deerun just north of Fort Worth and about 25 miles NW of Dallas". And Buffallo drives will be a trademark from Dillards to the AMC twice a day.

:eek2:

[JBB]

It's really a shame that they're going to totally spoil a truly beautiful plot of land. This thing has been "proposed" for years, so maybe there's still hope yet for it to fall through.

[crescentboi]

I just can't believe that they say they're going to be like/compete with Northpark/Galleria. I would love to see a Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Versace, Gucci etc sign on WAY OUT there! Don't think so.

[gc]

Welcome to "The Shops of Westlake in Circle T Ranchhouse near Alliance and TMS Castlebend woodlake Deerun just north of Fort Worth and about 25 miles NW of Dallas"

I love it...

[Foucault]

How do they expect to attract fine entertainment, cuisine, &c., if they can't even attract fine shopping?

[LakeHighlands]

Dallas-Fort Worth
With the completion of The Shops at Circle T Ranch, there will be...

18 Dillard’s*
17 Foley’s*
17 J.C. Penny
14 Sears
12 Mervyn’s
6 Nordstrom**
5 Neiman Marcus
4 Saks Fifth Avenue***
2 Macy’s
1 Lord and Taylor (Had May Company not run L&T into the ground, there would be 4 stores in DFW; NorthPark, Willow Bend, North East, Circle T Ranch)

Besides Dillard’s and Foley’s, there will be other anchor department stores at Circle T Ranch, hint (Think Willow Bend Anchor’s, minus L&T.) The unnamed department stores count is not included above as those stores have not made official announcements yet.

* Includes the Dillard’s and Foley’s Under Construction at Firewheel Town Center (Garland)
** Includes Nordstrom that will be built at NorthPark
*** Includes Saks under construction at Willow Bend

[JBB]

You didn't even mention Kohl's in your list. According to their website, there are 18 stores within 50 miles of my home in Bedford.

[Geaux Tigers]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=15 rowSpan=7></TD><TD>I guess I somehow missed this in yesterday's paper...

</TD><TD width=15 rowSpan=7>http://www.dfw.com/images/common/spacer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://www.dfw.com/images/common/spacer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>

Firm: Mall is still on track

By Andrea Jares
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

<!-- begin body-content -->General Growth Properties has pushed back the opening date of a long-anticipated Westlake mall in a federal filing, but a spokeswoman for the developer said the project is still on target to open in fall 2007.

The later date for the opening of the Shops at Circle T Ranch was given to the Securities and Exchange Commission because it is more conservative and reflects when the company expects all parts of the mall to be completed, said Julie Jacoby, General Growth spokeswoman.

In partnership with Alliance developer Hillwood, General Growth has been planning the Shops at Circle T Ranch off Texas 114 since 1995. Foley's, Dillard's and an AMC theater have signed on as anchors for the 1.3 million-square-foot mall.

Construction will take 18 to 24 months, representatives of Hillwood and General Growth said.

Trent Petty, Westlake's city manager, said mall developers have not yet submitted detailed plans for city approval so that crews can dredge nearby Lake Turner, design roads and build.

"There is the ability to fast-track portions of the project and build some of it simultaneously," Petty said.

"But there are certain milestones that have to be completed first."

Petty is used to the delays. He has drawn up two city budgets every year since 2000 -- a conservative one without the mall revenue and one with more spending on town projects.

"We hope to be surprised one of these days when we have to put it in the budget," Petty said.

He said recent developments in the mall and department-store businesses might be causing a slowdown, noting that planned anchors Foley's and Neiman Marcus have recently been bought and that General Growth, the developer, also recently merged with the Rouse Co.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[US75Guy]

Circle T mall still in pipeline, developers say
New schedule has retail development opening in 2008
Dallas Business Journal - February 24, 2006
by Holli L. Estridge
Staff Writer

The town of Westlake has waited years for dirt to move on the Shops at Circle T Ranch, a proposed 1.3 million-square-foot mall along the growing State Highway 114 corridor. After seven years, representatives of Hillwood Properties and General Growth Properties Inc. say the project is still in the pipeline, though General Growth has pushed its opening back to 2008.

"We're still committed to moving forward on the project," said General Growth spokesman Jim Graham. "We're working on the timing and various factors with retailers." Graham declined to comment on specific factors that could be affecting progress on the project, which would span an area between Westlake Parkway and Trophy Club Drive, on the east side of Lake Turner.

The anchor tenants announced by Hillwood and General Growth in early 2004 are also still committed to the project, said Darrell Lake, senior vice president of Hillwood Development. At the time, Hillwood and General Growth said Dillard's, Foley's and AMC Theaters were committed to the mall. Dillard's spokeswoman Julie Bull said the company is still on schedule to deliver a department store on the site. Foley's parent Federated Department Stores Inc. said the company never formally announced a commitment and is still studying the site, and AMC Theaters Inc. did not return calls to verify its commitment.

Hillwood spokesman David Pelletier said the mall developers are waiting for a commitment from a higher-profile lead anchor tenant to move the project forward. In the meantime, the partners recently announced plans to start the first 300,000-square-foot phase of an adjacent center at the intersection of S.H. 170 and U.S. 377. The yet-to-be-named center, situated on 150 acres, will include big box retail and tenants similar to the mix located near Frisco's Stonebriar Centre.

The Shops at Circle T Ranch -- a development that will rival in size the region's three other shopping complexes, North East Mall in Hurst, the Parks at Arlington and Grapevine Mills mall -- has been in the planning stages since 1999. The Circle T Ranch is owned by Hillwood, the company that oversees the sprawling Alliance industrial development that surrounds Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The partners submitted official zoning plans for the project to Westlake officials in February 2004, indicating the mall would open in 2006.

Westlake Town Manager Trent Petty said the town has created two budgets in recent years reflecting sales tax revenue the town would garner from the mall development and a budget without the mall. This year, he said, the town did not bother building a city budget around the mall. The town's board of aldermen on Feb. 27 will consider scheduling a public election to remove the mall's economic development sales tax allotment -- redirecting $1.6 million to the general fund. Petty said the town collects substantial sales and use taxes based on business purchases made by tenants of the Solana office park's Westlake campus. The town still retains the capacity to provide incentives to retailers through Chapter 380 agreements, which would rebate a portion of sales tax revenue generated by the development. "We want to avoid the town's being put in a situation where we have to assess a property tax, when we have money sitting over here that we've never been able to use," Petty said. The town of Westlake does not levy a property tax.

[mikedsjr]

If it rivals The Parks Mall in Arlington in size, then this will be definitley a monster of a mall, but I don't think I have a clue how they define size. Do they include the entertainment areas? Do they include the movie theatre? Do they include ice rinks? Do they include walking space? Are they including retail space only?

Northeast Mall is supposedly larger than Grapevine and I think the Parks, but don't tell me that. Northeast Mall seems tiny to me, but Northeast Mall has 2 chains that have 3 levels of shopping space. Just walking mall space, Northeast Mall is tiny. You need a backpack at Grapevine Mills compared to Northeast.

[noelamador]

^I believe it's all the reatail spaces combined including the department stores. and NE Mall has some really large anchors like you said. same goes for Northpark.


for example the Mall of America has the most overall square footage in the US, but South Coast Plaza is the largest in terms or retail space.

[Aeneas515]

So wait are they looking to put in a theater there as well? I live right between Town Square and the Circle T Ranch, and I would doubt that there will be enough interest to have 2 theaters running. I know the Town Square one will do well, but I don't know about one in Westlake at this point.

[Geaux Tigers]

I think with the growth in far north Ft. Worth towards Roanoke, there should be no problem with support for two theaters.

[NThomas]

According to General Growth Properties' (Circle T's management company) "Arial Fact Sheet" (PDF (http://ggp.com/Content/Data/Aerialfactsheet/The%20Shops%20at%20Circle%20T%20Ranch_aerialfact.p df)) published last May,the Circle T Ranch Retail Resort is suppose to open Fall 2009.

With the credit crunch is this still on track? Alliance Town Center (http://www.alliancetexas.com/Developments/AllianceTownCenter/tabid/225/Default.aspx) seems to be getting all the attention and growth.

Also the AllianceTexas Map (Link (http://www.alliancetexas.com/Map/tabid/62/Default.aspx)) divides all the sections of AllianceTexas and Circle T Ranch has the:

Vaquero (http://www.vaqueroclub.com/) , a golf club and housing development
Westlake Corporate Center, Corporate campuses and office parks
Circle T Ranch Retail Resort (http://www.alliancetexas.com/Inventory/BuildingDetails/tabid/163/Default.aspx?x=38) , the what we all knew as The Shops at Circle T Ranch. This is apparently a new name for the open-air lifestyle center (mall).
The Shops at Circle T Ranch (http://www.alliancetexas.com/Inventory/BuildingDetails/tabid/163/Default.aspx?x=39), 1.1 million-square-foot power center (strip mall)


Has anyone else seen this name change?