Everitt intends to ‘keep busy’ without mall in portfolio

FORT COLLINS — The Foothills Mall can always be called “The House that Bob Built.”

But after 30 years and multiple additions, Fort Collins developer Bob Everitt was willing to turn over the 600,000-square-foot house to new residents.

Everitt, who owned the mall along with Phoenix, Ariz.-based Westcor Ltd., said the sale of the mall to General Growth Properties was a function of timing.

“I had three partners in Phoenix — two of the three have passed away,” Everitt said. “The other partner and I are in our 70s.”

Everitt said he recognized that the mall needed a makeover to keep it competitive, but decided the time and energy and investment necessary was best asked of new owners.

“This company (General Growth) has the resources,” he said. “And I’m sure they’ll recognize what a great town this is.”

The last major work on the mall occurred in 1989. Any additional expansion of the center would require more parking, Everitt said.

He won’t try to predict what General Growth will do with the mall or the three surrounding strip centers — The Shops, The Commons and The Plaza. One thing is certain. If the new owners add retail space, they’ll have to add parking, he said.

Everitt is walking away from the mall business, but his company — Everitt Enterprises — promises not to go into a shell. The company has been historically active in new development of retail, office and residential projects.

“We’ll sit down after the first of the year and see where we want to go,” he said. “We’ll keep busy.”

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