"It's not a really good idea. We're very small, and we have a very historical area. The volume of people and the traffic would just kill us," she says.

Washington and Bruce Townships, both in north Macomb County, have consistently ranked in the top five areas for the most residential development for the last five years. Most of the Detroit suburbs are moving out farther into the country areas, and Washington and Bruce have absorbed many new homes and businesses, with retail developments following quickly.

McLaughlin says Romeo would want to annex the property to recoup taxes to pay for water and sewer, as well as provide police and fire protection. The township, which surrounds the village, would still get one mill of the taxes just it does now, she says.

The clerk reiterated the talks have been just idle chatter, and no plans have been submitted, and village council has not made any type of movement in this direction.

Karen MacDonald, director of communications for Taubman, says the company may have discussed such plans with Karam years ago, but denied any discussions are going on now.

"We have nothing to announce. We don't plan on building anything in Michigan at this point," she says.

The last Taubman mall in Michigan was Great Lakes Crossing, a $200-million, 1.4 million-sf self-enclosed mall in Auburn Hills.