CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Attention shoppers!
You've probably heard the rumors and now we're getting our first look at a massive luxury outlet mall planned for Chesterfield Township.
Welcome to the Outlets of Southeast Michigan, kind of. Jeffery R. Anderson Real Estate, the builder behind the mall, is giving us a sneak preview of what they have planned for a vacant piece of land along Interstate 94 at M-59.
In a video posted online the developer says, "We're going to come in and make this the most compelling and interesting destination anywhere in the Midwest."
From grassy and overgrown to shiny and new, full price retailers like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Cole Haan, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Burberry are ready to move in.
"Over development plan is 330,000 square feet of the best of the best in the outlet industry," the developer says in the video.
Outlets of southeast Michigan has one mile of I-94 frontage and is highly visible and easily accessible via M-59 and 21 Mile Road. The northbound 21 Mile Road exit ramp has been redesigned to improve access to the development.
Officials from Chesterfield Township are on board with the development. Plans are being finalized but shoppers won't see any construction until the lagoon land is cleaned up. Those final plans are up in Lansing as this is being written and they are putting a delay on an open date.
But taking this land from drab to fab is something Karen Hilai is looking forward to.
"I am so excited about this opening. I live like right here so all I have to do drive through this cut through and I am at the mall," she said.
But for people such as Alan Hugh, who lives along 21 Mile Road, the new shopping center will be in his front yard, literally.
"The traffic is going to be terrible," he said.
Four hotels, two convention centers and four restaurants also will be a part of the development.
The Chesterfield Township supervisor expects ground to break in 2015.