A sudden rush of features in the US media indicate that the 2.3 billion dollar Xanadu development in New Jersey, incorporating North America’s first indoor snow centre, may be delayed again.

Reports indicated that in the current economic climate the huge project is having difficulty finding tenants to fill a high enough proportion of its retail space to make it viable, and that rather than adding new tenants over the past six months in the run up to opening, a number of key partners have instead pulled out or reduced their commitment to Xanadu.

Xanadu’s opening date has been set back on many occasions and was most recently said to be August 2009, after being put back from a previous Autumn 2008 opening. A decision on whether the August 2009 opening date will be adhered to is due within the month.

Whether or not the centre opens, it appears that the complex will be largely completed in time for an August opening as far as the construction teams are concerned. The controversial titled outer walls are largely complete and have pundits competing to come up with a simple description of the look of Xanadu. Others report on the design of the interior, which is reported to be filled with giant video screens which allow for an ever changing landscape and live broadcasts in to the mall from the snow slopes.

John Samerjan, a spokesman for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, told local media this month that the timing of the opening was less important than the compelling logic of a unique attraction in one of the most desirable locations in the country.

“Nobody invests two billion dollars for a one-year window,” he said. “Looking out toward 2010 or whenever we’ve gone through this and the economy upticks, with all that’s going on, Xanadu, the new rail link, the new stadium, we’re going to be in an amazing place.”

---