The Sycamore Crossings shopping center project, approved by the Sycamore City Council Feb. 6, is fueling curiosity over whether the small-town economy can support such a substantial venue.

The 450,000-square-foot center will be built near Peace Road and Route 23, within close proximiy to a corridor already featuring major names such as Wal-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond and Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Whether vacant store fronts and decreased property values will be future headaches for Sycamore remains unknown.

According to U.S. Census data, DeKalb County experienced a 7.3 percent population growth from 2000 to 2004, compared to the Illinois average of 2.4 percent. Despite recent increases in retail development in both DeKalb and Sycamore, officials believe this provides no threat to Sycamore Crossings’ potential retail success.

“There’s room for expansion in both Sycamore and DeKalb,” said Paul Rasmussen, city development director. “I think there’s enough room here for multiple shopping centers. The more of a powerhouse we become, the better it will be for both of us.”

“Shopping districts tend to complement each other,” said Stephen Karlson, associate economics professor. “The tenant stores of the mall are likely to offer items not currently available along the Sycamore Road strip, which is dominated by building supply and discount dry goods stores. Ultimately, the mix of tenant stores at the mall will determine whether it complements the Sycamore Road strip rather than stealing business from it.”

When completed, the shopping center would be the closest retail center for DeKalb County’s 95,503 residents, allowing them to avoid traveling elsewhere, like CherryVale Mall in Cherry Valley, to find mall-specific stores.

Rasmussen took part in a 2000 report on DeKalb’s economic leakage. The report found apparel had a 74 percent leakage rate — 74 percent of residents’ clothing purchases were spent elsewhere. Rasmussen has hopes Sycamore Crossings will help lower that number.

Sycamore will not be responsible for funding the project.

First Rockford Group, the firm responsible for construction, will provide the project’s initial costs. Three years after 50,000 square feet of retail space is operating, First Rockford Group will receive 50 percent of the center’s sales tax revenue. Four years later, another 40 percent will go back to the firm, with the remaining 60 percent going to Sycamore.

There also will be 46 neighboring residential condominium lots along with the largest shopping center in local history.