CHICAGO—The New York-based iStar Financial Inc. took control of the iconic Ford City Mall on the city's southwest side last December, after previous owner Sam Zell decided to walk away. And the new owners have just begun planning to revive the one-million-square-foot shopping center, one of the first indoor malls of its kind in the U.S. They have tapped U.S. Equities Realty to manage the space and SRS Real Estate Partners to handle the leasing.

“We know there is a strong need for a full-service retail mall in this area of Chicago and a pent up demand from the community, and we are excited about the opportunity,” says Cynthia Tucker, senior vice president of iStar.

They will begin making initial improvements to the property in 2014, including a façade renovation, updated interior lighting and finishes, and substantial landscaping. Although the property has aged a bit, the Chicago Sun-Times reported early last March that the mall came through the recession with a vacancy rate of just 10%.

“We have a strong track record in successfully repositioning and increasing profitability for properties all across Chicago,” says Katherine Scott, executive vice president of U.S. Equities Realty. “We have hit the ground running working with our strong mall management team that knows what needs to be done at Ford City. We want to make sure it's an attractive shopping destination for families in the surrounding area.”

“We've only been on board a few weeks and we have already received many phone calls from retailers interested in Ford City,” says Ken Galvin, senior vice president of SRS Real Estate Partners. “I'm hearing a strong desire to locate at the mall because of the incredible density and strong retail activity in the surrounding area.”

SRS officials say they will focus on attracting more retailers, including women's and children's apparel for work and school, fine jewelry stores, and other family stores. The new owners also see potential for more community events at the mall. Ford City recently hosted a jobs fair and has plans for other events this summer and fall.

Instant Insights /

iStar Launches Renewal of Ford City

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