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Northline Commons Heralds a Change of Pace for Old Mall
Nancy Sarnoff
Houston Chronicle

Shopping center off Interstate 45 will follow trend to outdoor space

Recently, workers removed the old sign identifying Northline Mall and replaced it with a new one reading Northline Commons, signifying a fresh start for one of Houston's oldest shopping centers.

More than a year ago, the mall's owners said they would redevelop the 1960s property by tearing it down and starting from scratch with a more open, outdoor concept.

The property is north of Loop 610 at Interstate 45 and Crosstimbers, an area that has suffered economically, said Rebecca Victor, general manager of the mall.

"But that environment's been changing," she said. "This redevelopment is going to give it a shot in the arm."

Some new shopping space on the nearly 80-acre site has already been built and is housing tenants formerly in the mall, which is expected to be demolished this year and replaced by more shops. In all, about 800,000 square feet of new space will be added.

Though some tenants will remain in the center, including Palais Royal, a new tenant roster includes Marshalls, Ross, Conn's and Office Depot, according to Fidelis Realty Partners.

Fidelis has been leading the redevelopment, leasing the space and is a limited partner.

Wal-Mart Stores purchased 19 acres from the owners for a Supercenter, which will be at Crosstimbers and Fulton, adjacent to new multitenant retail buildings.

Houston Community College also acquired land for a new campus on about 14 acres along the Fulton side of the property.

The Magic Johnson Theatres movie theater, a former mall tenant, closed last month and won't be replaced.

Most of the stores should be open by Christmas 2008, said Lynn Davis of Fidelis.

This project is the latest example here of a growing trend to reinvent malls by adding outdoor components, or by scraping the properties and starting over with updated concepts.

Fewer enclosed malls are being built these days, as more retailers seek out space in outdoor, urban-style shopping centers.

By getting rid of Northline Mall, there will be more room to create a series of modern buildings, where shoppers can park in front of the store of their choice and get in and out much faster.

"The decision to do this is kind of the sign of the times," Victor said.

The mall was originally developed by Boston-based Berenson Associates, which sold a 50 percent interest in the property to New York-based Eastbourne Investments.

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