STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After nearly a year of being tight-lipped about the Staten Island Mall expansion project, Chicago-based General Growth Properties (GGP) has announced a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of its 1.2-million-square-foot property in New Springville that will add 1,300 new jobs to the borough's employment pool.

The Advance first reported on the expansion of the 42-year-old mall in May 2014. Construction on the project, which will include interior and exterior upgrades, new fashion retailers, restaurants, a cinema, public piazza and a Fairway Market, is expected to commence following necessary city approvals. Construction is expected to be complete by 2017.

"Staten Island Mall's redevelopment is the latest in a series of exciting job-creating projects coming to Staten Island. We are particularly excited to welcome Fairway Market, which will give us even more grocery options," said Borough President James Oddo.

"My office is working closely with the Mall on their approval process and on the suggested road improvements. From the North Shore to the South Shore, East Shore to the West, economic development is happening throughout Staten Island," he added.

JOB CREATION

GGP, which filed plans with the Department of City Planning last July, said the expansion will spur economic activity in the borough.

"The redevelopment also will spur economic development, creating approximately 1,500 new jobs and nearly $300 million in economic activity, the majority of which will be in New York City," GGP said in a written statement.

"Upon completion, the annual operation of the project is expected to create an estimated 1,300 new jobs, generating almost $140 million for New York State, of which $130 million will be in New York City, building a strong foundation for future economic growth in the area."

MORE THAN NEW STORES



Included in the plan is a public piazza where guests can gather year-round. The area will be used for a farmers market, holiday festivities, fashion shows and community fundraisers, says GGP.

Enhancements also include the ability for Macy's to expand.

The proposed 427,000-square-foot expansion also allows for a 53,000-square-foot-space cinema at the center.

"By increasing the retail area, broadening the store offerings, and improving public spaces, the redevelopment will further transform the visitors' experience in one of the area's mainstays and create a new hub of community activity," GGP said in its statement.

PLANS FILED WITH CITY AGENCY

Although David Albertson, senior marketing manager of the Mall, refused to provide further details about the Mall expansion, recently filed documents that appear on the City Planning Department's website call for 88,000 square feet of non-department store retail, 41,000 square feet of department store retail, a 50,000-square-foot supermarket, a 54,000-square-foot movie theater, and a 75,000-square-foot expansion of Macy's.

The document -- which must still undergo an environmental review -- also outlines 34,000 square feet of restaurants, with a nearly 11,000-square-foot food court.

Changes in the original plans filed with City Planning earlier last year include a reduction in the total size of the proposed expansion, from 444,835 square feet to 426,576, and the number of parking spaces within the proposed parking garage, from 1,500 spaces to 1,413.

Currently there are 7,200 parking spaces at the Mall -- the new plan calls for 367 fewer spots.

CHANGING THE MALL IMAGE

The Mall began a campaign last year to change its image by bringing in high-end retailers.

The new retailers include the recently opened Haagen-Dazs, Potatopia, LEGO store, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Microsoft, L'Occitane En Provence, Aveda, Soma, Rack Room Shoes and Invicta Watches.

Many say the Mall overhaul is aimed at competing with the high-end outlets that are scheduled to be built on the North Shore waterfront by 2016.

(Editor's Note: The total number of parking spaces at the Staten Island Mall is 7,200. A previous version of this story erroneously had that number at 1,780.)

FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on