Here’s what we know about the demolition of the old Michaels building in Shiloh
The Michaels building at Green Mount Crossing shopping center in Shiloh is being torn down and replaced with a Ross Dress For Less department store, Mayor Bob Weilmuenster confirmed Thursday morning.
It’s demolition has nothing to do with mine subsidence, he said, contrary to circulating rumors.
“That’s my understanding. That’s all been remediated,” Weilmuenster said. “The mines were filled. No other store is impacted or threatened. I asked that question to Dierbergs (which owns the complex) last week when we had the meeting.
“Dierbergs spent millions of dollars to fill the mines.”
The shopping center is located approximately two miles southeast of the old St. Ellen Mine, which has been to blame for subsidence issues in O’Fallon and Shiloh for decades. Much of the development along the I-64 corridor that connects exits 14 and 16 accounted for the underground minds with preemptive remediation.
Weilmuenster said, as far as he knew, the old Michaels building didn’t have any damage.
“Not that I know of ... or the inspector doesn’t know of any structural damage,” he said.
Michael’s once was housed at 3800 Green Mount Crossing Drive before moving into the old World Market building at 3500 Green Mount Crossing Drive in the same shopping center in Shiloh — just 100 yards or so away.
After the rebuild, Ross Dress For Less will take up residence where the old Michael’s building stood.
“The building is being torn down and being rebuilt for a different footprint for Ross Dress For Less. There was just some infrastructure that needed to be redone. It was just for the footprint they needed,” Weilmuenster said.
A spokesperson for Ross Dress for Less was not immediately available to discuss the new location or building plans.
Weilmuenster also offered possible reasons for why Ross Dress For Less wanted a total rebuild.
“I am not sure if they are going deeper or higher or what the reasons for it are — just that the footprint of the building needed to be changed,” he said. “That’s why they’re tearing it down and redoing it. It looks complicated because there are buildings on both sides. It could have been they wanted to go higher for second floor storage or office space.”
Weilmuenster said Ross Dress For Less already has secured the permits for the building, but he was unsure of a possible time frame for completion.
Ross Dress For Less is a discount department store that, according to their website, “offers the best bargains on the latest trends in clothing, shoes, home decor and more.” There’s also a Fairview Heights location at 6005 N. Illinois St.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 1:32 PM.