A number of the mall's tenants have received letters informingthem of the pending mall's transaction and defining new leasetermsTenants say the letters are routine in retail deals of thiscategory but wonder who the purchaser is since Kane's name isn'tmentioned in the leasing information. North Hills Mall was foundedby Kane, who also owns nearby North Hills Plaza and operates KaneRealty Corp.

Kane has not revealed his financial backers and hasn't discussedplans for the shopping center. He has confirmed, however, that hewill dismiss the current owner's $70 million plan to renovate the37-year-old site, and develop his own updating program. Kane isalso silent on plans for next-door North Hills Plaza. Previousplans for this site have included a hotel, a parking garage and anapartment tower.

North Hills Mall was the region's first enclosed shopping centerand was once the city's most active retail destination. But sinceCrabtree Valley Mall opened nearby, it has been losing sales groundand customer traffic.