Construction Begins on Sawmill Station Mixed-Use Project
The developers recently launched vertical construction on the 26-acre redevelopment project and also marked the completion of 200,000 square feet of leasing at the project.
MORTON GROVE, IL—Kensington Development Partners of Oak Grove, IL and IM Properties of Chicago have broken ground on their mixed-use Saw Mill Station project that will redevelop the former Prairie View Plaza here.
The developers recently launched vertical construction on the 26-acre redevelopment project and also marked the completion of 200,000 square feet of leasing at the project. When completed, Sawmill Station, being built at the southeast corner of Dempster Street and Waukegan Road, 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 out-lots located on Dempster Street. Construction of these spaces is expected to commence in the upcoming weeks which will allow some tenants to begin moving in and opening stores in the fall of 2020.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on Oct. 22.
Anchor tenants at Sawmill Station, which will be located on the south side of 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 the out-lots along Dempster Street.
In September 2018, Kensington Development Partners and IM Properties acquired the 26-acre, 310,000-square-foot Prairie View Plaza. In April of this year, the two firms secured unanimous approval from the Plan Commission of the Village of Morton Grove for the project.
Kensington and IM Partners have named the center Sawmill Station in tribute to the area’s historic Miller’s Mill, the first water-powered sawmill that was erected by John Miller in 1841. Sawmill Station will attract residents to this long-awaited future neighborhood gathering place.
The property’s location features strong demographics. The population is 149,524 within three miles and 391,867 within five miles. Average household income is $97,860 and $107,902 within three and five miles, respectively. The traffic count along Dempster Street is 44,500 vehicles per day and along Waukegan Road the VPD count is 25,600.