Les Blum, SVP and general manager for the local Opus Northoffice, says the company was able to change the zoning after thedemolition of the 561,000-sf distribution center and the purchaseof the property for more than $11 million. The retail will besituated on a 54-acre site, with roughly 273,000 sf of space forthree anchors and 204,000 sf of the rest of the space, and 4 acresfor out-lots.

One of the anchors will be a 132,000-sf Target, while the otherwill be a 60,000-sf Pick 'n Save grocery store. "We're innegotiations with 11 other shops and a couple of outlots," Blumtells GlobeSt.com. "The two anchors we have now will occupy theproperty in July 2009." Michael Fitzgerald with Mid-America RealEstate-Wisconsin LLC is handing the leasing for the property. Opusowns the property, but Target paid almost $3 million for its site.A Lowe's Home Improvement Store was talked about for the site, butthe retailer has pulled out.

Blum says the area has high demand. "The location is a goodunderserved market, with good demographics and new residentialexpansion to the south and west," he says. The company had tocomplete extensive landscaping to the property to appease nearbyresidents, including that which will block the retail shops frombicycle and walking paths near the Fox River.