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Christie Promises Makeover For Xanadu, NJ's 'Ugliest' Building

NUTLEY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Gov. Chris Christie wants a longtime New Jersey eyesore to get a makeover.

Calling it the ugliest building in New Jersey, and possibly America, Christie said Thursday that any deal to finish developing a troubled multi-billion dollar retail and entertainment complex at the Meadowlands will have to include a new exterior.

GUIDE: New Meadowlands Stadium

WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports the governor wants Xanadu to open by the end of Spring.

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Late last year, Triple Five, which owns the Mall of America in Minnesota and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada, signed a letter of intent with the lenders of the Xanadu complex to complete the development and possibly expand it.

Located next to the Izod Center and across a highway from the $1.6 billion New Meadowlands Stadium that is slated to host the 2014 Super Bowl, the decor of the complex has been a source of curiosity for motorists traveling the New Jersey Turnpike.

At a town hall event Thursday, Christie said the first thing that must be done is change the multicolored, multi-patterned exterior.

"They have to change the God-awful ugly outside of that building. It is just an offense to the eyes as you drive up the turnpike,'' Christie told the crowd, which responded with a cheer.

1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg with Christie's comments from the town hall meeting.

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"It doesn't look so great," Sam Chin of Rutherford told CBS 2's Christine Sloan.

"Everybody's talking about it. It's just one eyesore," Ronald Tucci told CBS 2's Dave Carlin.

Some had a different opinion and said the shapes and colors were growing on them.

"You know it's ugly, but it's not horribly ugly. I've kind of gotten used to it," Joanne Dezego of East Rutherford said.

The decor, which cost an estimated $40 million, has been a source of curiosity for motorists on the turnpike and a joke for late-night comedians.

Christie said the exterior was a reminder of the project's failure, asking: "How didn't everybody understand that something that ugly would fail?''

The project has had more than just cosmetic problems.

The sprawling $2 billion complex originally was projected to open in late 2007. It was supposed to feature shops, an indoor snow dome, a movie complex, bowling alley, restaurants and an upscale martini bar. But as financing fell through, it remained empty, with its most noticeable feature being its exterior.

Creditors took over Xanadu in August, after original lead developer Mills Corp. ran into financial problems and was replaced as general managing partner in early 2007 by Los Angeles-based Colony Capital Acquisitions.

Triple Five and the governor's office are in negotiations to start development, and a possible expansion. Christie said he hopes to have an announcement on the project this spring.

Christie has backed findings of a panel studying the state's gaming, sports and entertainment industries that determined $875 million was needed to finish the Xanadu and recommended the state help find some money to complete it, likely in the form of tax-exempt bonds. But, on Thursday the governor said there would be a caveat to using any state money on the project, the state wants a piece of the equity.

"If they want a state investment, we get a piece of the action,'' Christie said.

Some business owners and workers nearby are worried that once completed, the new structure will be filled with restaurants and pull customers away from them.

However, Bloomfield resident Charles Thompson, who came to the town hall event, said he didn't agree with Christie on a lot of things, but was thrilled to hear him mention that Xanadu was getting a makeover.

"He's right about that,'' said the 58-year-old Thompson. "Paint it white, or black, just do something!''

Christie promised that the exterior would be the first thing worked on, even if construction inside remains unfinished.

"I can't take it anymore,'' Christie said, "and neither can the people of New Jersey.''

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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