American Dream Meadowlands Is More Than 75% Leased

The inside of American Dream Meadowlands continues to fill up a year and a half out from its anticipated 2018 opening, officials close to the project confirmed recently.

Slightly more than 75 percent of the project has been leased, which includes space being taken in the center part of the 91-acre campus, a spokesman with MWW Public Relations confirmed. Several of the existing tenants under lease have already asked to increase their lease space size, the spokesman said.

American Dream was originally slated to have 500 retailers within its walls, but with tenants asking to increase their footprint, it is unknown if that number will remain the same or not.

It has been a tumultuous ride for the project since development began on the mixed retail and entertainment center in the early and mid-2000s when it was known as Xanadu, but that project was shut down despite most of the interior being complete.

Related: 'Most Expensive Retail Project On Earth' Coming To Meadowlands

Triple Five Group, the project's developer, is promising a world-class entertainment, retail, and dining destination designed not only for North Jerseyans, but for the millions of tourists who visit New York City annually. NJ Transit will run dedicated service from the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City to the facility once it opens.

The $5 billion project will boast some of the most auspicious and unique entertainment options on the east coast when it opens in the fall of 2018.

Attractions in the campus' five interconnected areas will include a 12-story indoor ski park, an indoor waterpark with an array of DreamWorks-theme rides and attractions, the largest indoor amusement park in the western hemisphere, Nickelodeon Universe, a 22,000-square-foot adult arcade, a LEGOLAND, and a 1,500-seat 4D movie theater where moviegoers can "smell" the film they're watching.

RELATED: Aquarium, LEGOLAND Coming To American Dream Center

The first Sea Life aquarium in New Jersey, a will feature a tropical ocean tank, exotic animals like seahorses and sharks and will have a walk-through underwater tunnel and a 300-foot-tall Ferris wheel will offer a unique view of Manhattan.

Several high-end retailers have already reserved space in a section of the 3 million-square-foot facility made just for them, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Off 5th, and Hermes. That section will feature valet parking and a champagne bar.

The 150,000-square-foot food hall will feature 15 restaurants, 50 grab-and-go offerings and the world’s first Kosher food court.

American Dream was slated to open next summer, but Triple Five pushed the date back to the following fall because of financing woes.

Triple Five released new renderings and a video recently of what American Dream is slated to look like once it opens.

Triple Five is trying to generate $2.65 billion from investors for the project, including the recently-approved sale of $1.15 billion in tax-exempt bonds.

RELATED: $800 Million Bond Sale For American Dream Meadowlands Project Can Go Forward

The sale of $1.15 billion in bonds was challenged in court by the New Jersey Alliance for Fiscal Integrity, but the complaint was dismissed in court.

Triple Five President Don Ghermezian told NJSpotlight that financing for the project is "100 percent committed," and that it will be announced "very, very shortly."

The project is expected to bring more than 20,000 jobs to the area and, according to NJSpotlight, another 23,000 once it opens.

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Rendering courtesy of Triple Five Group