Oak Brook, Illinois-based Kensington Development Partners, IM Properties and officials from the village of Morton Grove hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the launch of vertical construction and the completion of leases totaling 200,000 square feet of space at Sawmill Station. The first retail tenants are expected to begin moving in by the fall of 2020.
The 26-acre redevelopment project is located at the southeast corner of Dempster Street and Waukegan Road in Morton Grove, Illinois. When completed, Sawmill Station is projected to include approximately 240,000-square-feet of retail and entertainment space as well as a six-story multifamily component of approximately 250,000 square feet. The start of vertical construction at Sawmill Station is focused on the anchor tenants located at the southwest corner of the development and the outlots located on Dempster Street.
“This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter in Morton Grove’s history as a premier destination for retail, dining and entertainment,” said Morton Grove Mayor, Daniel P. DiMaria. “The people who will shop, work and live here are the beneficiaries of a lot of hard work, vision and cooperation from the village of Morton Grove and Kensington Development. Today we’re celebrating a big milestone for new investment in the community, and we don’t expect the momentum to end anytime soon.”
Anchor tenants that have already committed to the shopping center include LA Fitness (37,000 square feet), Dollar Tree (12,000 square feet) and Kohl’s (55,000 square feet). Additional tenants, including Cooper’s Hawk and Raising Cane’s, are taking outlots along Dempster Street. Sawmill Station will include additional retail spaces as well as the future development of a 250-unit, six-story multifamily project overlooking the forest preserve on the eastern portion of the property. Together these spaces will create a modern shopping, dining and entertainment location for Morton Grove and surrounding area residents.
“We continue to experience a great deal of enthusiasm and build great momentum for Sawmill Station,” said John Schoditsch, a principal with Kensington Development Partners. “The combination of the start of vertical construction and the announcements of the tremendous leasing activity that already has taken place further enhances the excitement for the redevelopment.”