The city and Arlington, VA-based Mills Corp., whose previous project here was the 1.7-million-sf Gurnee Mills mall in that far north suburb, have signed a memorandum of intent regarding the 2.8-acre site. The city is reacquiring the property from FJV Ventures, whose $250-million project was the latest to die last year, for $32.5 million.

However, CBS communications and community relations representative Elizabeth Shapiro cautions GlobeSt.com the station has made no decision on where it will move from the 170,000-sf armory style building at 630 N. McClurg Ct. "We are still reviewing a lot of options around Chicago," Shapiro tells GlobeSt.com.

Also, city officials have stressed retail as the driver of the project, which will be located across State Street from Target Corp.-owned Marshall Field's flagship store. This summer, sources, say, Harrod's expressed concern over other uses such as multifamily units and a hotel in the project, but the city continued pushing the retail aspect in talks.