After the holiday rush ends, and the new year begins, demolition on the empty mall is scheduled to begin—preserving Target and Macy's—but reducing the rest of the structure to rubble and dust.

Project Manager Jane Vaughan said that by the middle of December, Fourth Quarter Properties—the company set up by the Forum Development Team to handle the redevelopment project—should have all stakeholders and plans together, to begin destruction as soon as shoppers clear out after the holidays.

"It's been a long process, but it looks like we may finally be coming to the end of the road," Vaughan said.

But there are some loose ends to tie up.

Past owners, American Mall Properties, left the mall in bankruptcy. To move forward with the project, Fourth Quarter has to regain control of the full mall property. To get the project out of court, Fourth Quarter needs to come up with a viable project that all parties agree on.

"As you can imagine, everyone has their own interest in mind when they enter these talks," Vaughan said. "There's a lot of jockeying for positions going on."

Fourth Quarter also has to work out land-swapping deals with Target, Macys and the city of Sunnyvale in order to restore the street grid. Because of the way the project is designed, each party will give up some of its property, but gain back other pieces. In the end, Fourth Quarter and the city will each end up with same amount of land it started with, but with different sections.

Once the project physically begins, Fourth Quarter's contractors—who have not been chosen yet—will start by demolishing the old, condemned, two-story parking structure in the Northwest corner of the project at Mathilda and Washington Avenues.

"I'm looking forward to getting it rolling, it's been a long process," Vaughan said. "It will be a thrill to actually see demolition happen."

The Northeast parking lot—at S. Murphy Avenue—will remain open to handle the parking needs of the area. Once the first stage is complete, construction will begin on the Northeast parking lot, which will become a multi-story parking garage, and available parking will then move over to the Northwest.

The first stages of construction are focused primarily on Washington Avenue, which lies between the Town Center complex and the existing downtown businesses. Because of this, many storeowners are predicting a drop in patrons, as noise, dust and construction drive diners and shoppers away.

Il Postale owner Joe Antuzzi, who has lost businesses during redevelopment periods before in San Jose, said that even though many owners aren't looking forward to the negative impact construction could have on their business, they're ready for something to be done with the project area.

"At this point, we're just hoping Christmas is a good period for us, and we're crossing our fingers," Antuzzi said. "We just hope that the impression of people is not "Why go to Downtown Sunnyvale, there's nothing there?'"

Antuzzi said the owners in the area are trying to bring a group together to meet with Vaughan and Fourth Quarter to discuss their needs during construction. Vaughan said she wants to meet with them, but wants to get a final plan ready, and bring contractors aboard, before they meet.

"I think if you keep the lines of communication open, you explain what's going on and you try to correct things when you are able to correct them, its amazing how well people can get along at times." Vaughan said.