A proposal for an enclosed shopping center drew criticism from Sycamore merchants and support from DeKalb city officials at a DeKalb County Board meeting Jan. 11.

epresentatives from Wilmorite Inc., a New York-based development firm, presented tentative drawings for a 300,000-square-foot mall. The proposed shopping center would be located at Sycamore and Barber Greene roads.

Wilmorite representatives said the shopping center would generate $60 million annually in sales. DeKalb County loses $40 million when local residents leave the community to shop elsewhere, said Vince Maida, vice chairman of Wilmorite. He estimated the shopping center would provide between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs.

Sycamore businessmen objected to the proposal, saying a shopping mall would hurt their businesses and create vacancies in both downtown Sycamore and DeKalb stores.

“The pie is only so big,” said Edward Knodle, vice president of Knodle’s Electric Inc., 228 S. California, Sycamore. “The more you slice it up, the more difficult you make it for the small businessman.”

Sycamore Mayor Harold “Red” Johnson also expressed opposition to the mall. He said the Sycamore City Council voted 7-0 on a resolution advising the DeKalb County Board not to sell the land.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow and 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Hanna said they support the sale of the land and the building of the shopping center because of the business it would bring to the city. If the county board approves the sale, the city of DeKalb plans to annex the land, Sparrow said.

“Whether it’s now or a year or two, a shopping center will be built,” he said.

Wilmorite plans to spend $35 million to develop the mall, said Peter Formicola, vice president of acquisitions for Wilmorite. The shopping center would have a tree-lined skylight running the length of the mall, accented by a fountain at the main entrance.

Wilmorite officials pointed to their previous success rates in developing other shopping centers, including a zero to 2 percent vacancy rate.

Sparrow expressed concern that if county officials vote against selling the land to Wilmorite, a mall would be developed outside DeKalb County. Wilmorite officials said they will consider building the mall near DeKalb County if the county board votes against the sale.

Wilmorite has offered the county board $1.9 million for 113 acres of county farm property. The county board will vote on approval of the sale at its meeting Wednesday.

If the board approves the land sale, construction of the mall could be completed in 18 months, Formicola said. During construction, the company would employ about 1,000 people, he said.

Possible stores considered for inclusion in the shopping center are Sears, J.C. Penney, Carson Pirie Scott and Co. and Montgomery Ward, Formicola said.