Calumet City aldermen voted Thursday to move a forward with plans to demolish the former Sears stores at River Oaks Center to make way for modern development.
The city, which gained ownership of the 330,000-square-foot vacant space using a no-cash bid through the county, will draft a request for bids to complete the demolition.
While the city only owns 40 acres of the sprawling, once vibrant River Oaks, an architectural firm hired by the city presented a plan last month to redevelop the struggling mall for mixed uses of retail, restaurants and housing. Mayor Thaddeus Jones also said he is considering developing an “entertainment district” within space owned by the city to provide tax benefits and serve as an economic engine for Calumet City.
Deciding how to use the old department store space has proven difficult, with the city failing to receive a license to build a casino, after applying in 2021. Now, Jones says he has envisions an indoor and outdoor water park, complete with 208 hotel rooms.
However, the City Council struck language related to building a waterpark Thursday’s vote, leaving open more discussion of uses for the space. A motion to request to borrow $20 million from the state to construct the water park was tabled.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
