The developer is getting rid of the much-criticized current facade. Watch video
EAST RUTHERFORD -- American Dream will trade in its maligned orange and blue facade for a gleaming white exterior, its developer announced.
Triple Five released renderings Monday showing American Dream with an exterior made up of white vertical panels and black trimming.
The renderings depict the bigger tenants that have signed leases with American Dream, including Nickelodeon Universe, Dreamworks, Lord & Tayor and Saks Fifth Avenue, also draped in the white-and-black covering. Triple Five has sought to redesign the exterior of American Dream since taking over the project, formerly known as Xanadu, in 2011.
"Our vision is to create an elegant and visually exciting facade that will showcase the exceptional retail and entertainment destinations found inside American Dream," said Don Ghermezian, president of Triple Five Worldwide.
Construction work is underway at American Dream, Triple Five said. Work had been delayed since April, when Triple Five ran into trouble securing financing for the multi-billion dollar project.
A rendering shows a white exterior for American Dream. (Triple Five) A court cleared the way in September for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the landlord of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, where the mall is being built, to issue $1.15 billion in bonds to help finish construction. Triple Five plans to pair that money with another $1.5 billion in private financing.
However, NJSEA had not issued the bonds as planned in early November. The agency expected to offer the bonds by the end of November, but spokesmen for NJSEA and Triple Five would not confirm whether the sale had taken place.
The delay has not shaken the faith of the tenants who have signed leases with American Dream. Snow Operating, the company that will run the 12-story indoor ski park at the center, is still committed to the project, said Hugh Reynolds, vice president of marketing and sales for the company.
"With an undertaking as large and complex as this is, it was fully expected that there would be some hurdles along the way," Reynolds said.
Larry M. Mentzer, Jr., chief revenue officer for Century 21 Department Stores, said the company was still excited about American Dream.
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"We are currently in the planning process for a proposed 2018 opening in conjunction with the grand opening of the mall," he said.
Tiffany Boure, a spokeswoman for Hudson's Bay Company, said nothing had changed the company's plans to open Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Saks Off Fifth stores at American Dream.
Tony Armlin, senior vice president of development for Triple Five, said in August that American Dream would open in summer 2018. The latest announcement now says the mall will open in fall of that year.
The project was first proposed in 2002. Gov. Chris Christie has called it the "ugliest damn building in New Jersey."
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.