State acquires former Sears space in White Oaks Mall

[TexasTowelie]

After sitting vacant for more than two years, a new anchor tenant is moving into the former Sears space at White Oaks Mall — the state of Illinois.

The state acquired the nearly 14-acre property, which includes the sprawling 130,530-square-foot former department store space, for $3.5 million in August, according to Sangamon County tax records.

The plan is to utilize the space as the new headquarters of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which will soon need to vacate its current space at 1021 North Grand Ave. E. due to the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, “which will build a rail line that runs through the middle of the existing building,” said Marjani Williams, a spokeswoman with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

More than 700 state employees will be impacted by the project. Other state agencies housed in the existing IEPA building, such as the Illinois Pollution Control Board and Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, will also have a presence at the new White Oaks space.

Read more: https://www.sj-r.com/news/20201202/state-acquires-former-sears-space-in-white-oaks-mall
(Springfield State Journal Register)

[murielm99]

1. I wonder how much upgrading the building will need.

Some of the malls in my area have lost anchor stores. I have been told by other tenants in the mall near me that the store spaces have remained vacant because bringing them up to code would be so costly. There is asbestos removal, electrical upgrading and a variety of other issues.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I'm sure that they weighed the cost of renovating the building, asbestos abatement, and electrical

upgrades with the cost of constructing a new building.

Several years ago, Highland Mall in Austin closed. The mall was bought by Austin Community College and is now a new satellite campus with classrooms, offices, and lounge areas. It already had bus service and a large parking lot. The campus is also located near the center of the city and is accessible from I-35 and US 290.

[Squinch]

3. Great idea!