FORT COLLINS — The redevelopment of the aging Foothills Mall will be called off unless the new owners of the mall are able to acquire the Sears property, either through purchase or eminent domain, the would-be developer said Thursday.

Should that occur, the mall's new owners will instead seek to "maximize leasing potential," Don Provost of Alberta Development Partners, the Denver-based developer planning a $100 million redevelopment of the mall, said in an interview.

In a related development, City Manager Darin Atteberry today said that the eminent domain decision would be postponed for 30 days because Sears officials agreed to sit down with Alberta.

The vote had been scheduled for Jan. 15, but instead, officials from the city and both companies will have a face-to-face meeting, Atteberry said.

If no agreement is reached, then eminent domain will be back on the table, he said.

Atteberry has been aware of Alberta's resolve to abandon redevelopment plans if the Sears property cannot be acquired, he said Thursday. A lot of business people and community members want the development to happen, he said, and there are high expectations for the project.

Fort Collins Mayor Karen