Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 8

8 A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2004 DemocratandChronicle.com DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE Locations of properties sold by Wilmorite The sale of Wilmorite's properties includes three malls and two strip centers in the Rochester area as well as malls in four other states. The $2.3 billion sale to Macerich of Santa Monica, will allow Wilmorite to continue managing the Rochester-area malls. his son is in harm's way and seeing things that most parents would not want their children to see. Shawn recently called to tell his dad about being on patrol when two missiles landed inside the camp about 300 feet from where he and a buddy were standing. GREECE I iBDNriFni iniT WEBSTER jo i Rochester 5n GATES PENFIELD 3.

Pittsford Plaza Year opened: 1962 Square footage: 530,000 Some major tenants: Barnes Noble; TJ Maxx, Bed Bath Beyond 4. Eastview Mall in Victor Year opened: 1971, expanded in 1995 and 2003 Square footage: 1.3 million Some major tenants: Lord Taylor, Sears, Pottery Barn, The Bon-Ton 5. Eastview Commons in Victor Year opened: 1998 Square footage: 329,371 sq. ft. Some major tenants: Target, Old Navy, Home Depot Local properties sold: LThe Mall at Greece Ridge Center Year opened: 1994 by combining Greece Towne and Long Ridge malls; originally opened in 1967 as Greece Towne Mall Square footage: 1.6 million Some major tenants: Old Navy, Barnes Noble; Kauf mann's; The Disney Store; The Bon-Ton 2.

The Marketplace Year opened: 1982 Square footage: 1.1 million Some major tenants: Kauf mann's, Sears, The Bon-Ton, Banana Republic, Casual Corner, J.C. Penney CHI1-I BRIGHTON PERINTON 3 HENRIETTA Away FROM PAGE 1A serving in Iraq this Christmas and 16,000 more in Afghanistan, many will be thinking about a friend or relative thousands of miles away from home this weekend. "I think that people have to be reassured that even in those situations when people are far away, folks do look out for each other," said the Rev. Paul Wo-mack, a chaplain with the 98th Division of the U.S. Army Reserves who returned home from Iraq on Monday.

"Nobody will be alone." Christmas in spring Army Spc. Ryan Kennedy, a bodyguard to a general in Baghdad, is scheduled to be home in March if his deployment is not extended. Cpl. Justin Case, serving with the Marines' 1st Provisional Security Company in Djibouti, Africa, also could be home by March. For their families, Christmas is not Saturday.

It will be the day these two soldiers get home. "We all kind of made this pact RUSH MENDON CANADA i NEW Saratoga. XM Schenectady--' I r. NN. iNSfcT Syracuse ABOVE MICHIGAN PENNSYLVANIA The Rev.

(Col.) Paul Womack, 58, of Batavia was allowed to come home after three months in Iraq. He did tours in Vietnam and during the first Persian Gulf War before his short deployment in Iraq. He all too clearly understands the bittersweet feelings of coming home to family, but having to leave 120 comrades behind. Thursday he was at the 98th Division Headquarters in Rochester waiting to hear from a grieving family in Bridgeport, Pa. Sgt.

1st Class Paul D. Kar-powich, 30, a member of the reserve unit was killed Tuesday in Iraq when an explosion tore through a military mess tent. "It puts a damper on a homecoming regardless of what time of the year it is," said Womack, a former minister at the Covenant United Methodist Church on Culver Road. Womack was stationed at a different base, a former haunt of Iraq's Republican Guard where the 98th Division is training the new Iraqi Army. He didn't expect to be home this Christmas, but he got sick and was able to exchange duties with another chaplain in the unit.

He said the soldiers he left behind, some from the Rochester area, are doing the best they can to cope with the holiday away from home and now with the loss of a soldier from the unit. A choir was rehearsing for Christmas service, and the little chapel was decorated for the holiday. "You make do the best you can," Womack said. "Everybody is away from home. Everybody is in the same boat.

There is some poignancy during the holidays and we always take extra special care of each other." Christmas in Germany Lt. Michael Rainis has not been home for Christmas in two years. He was assigned to Dex-heim Army "Banbury "'Freehold N.j.. St. Charles Other properties included in sale: 6.

Towne Mall, Elizabethtown, Ky. 7. Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va. 8. Great Northern Mall, Clay.

9. Shoppingtown Mall, Syracuse. 10. Wilton Mall at Saratoga, Saratoga Springs. 11.

Rotterdam Square, Schenectady. 12. Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury, Conn. 13. Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold, N.J.

Properties to be sold later in a separate deal: 14. Charlestowne Mall, St. Charles, III. 15. Westshore Mall, Holland, Mich.

OHIO ILL. INDIANA WEST MgLean VIRGINIA N.C. KENTUCKY Elizabethtown with Justin that there is no way Christmas is going to be the same," said Justin's mother, Re- KELLY EGAN staff artist nee Case of Webster. "There are going to be a lot of families that are going to have Christmas in said those events had nothing to the spring." Shawn has also called home on several occasions with stories about wounded soldiers transported back to his base, between Fallujah and Ramadi. "He has spoken to them the night before and they come back in shreds," Veenstra said.

"He talks to me about it and I listen. It's painful and we both agree not to tell his mother." Shawn was scheduled to come home for two weeks at Christmas but gave up his spot so a soldier with children could come home instead. He is now scheduled to come home in late January. The Christmas tree will be waiting for him when he gets home, his dad said. "It will be two weeks of nonstop friends and late nights," Veenstra said.

"I used to get tired of that, but now I'm looking forward to it." A month ago, Mary Anne Sears was also anticipating a reunion with her son Staff Sgt. Eric Sears on Christmas. She was planning to fly to Texas to watch her 20-month-old grandson so Eric and his wife, Amy, could spend some time together. But the reunion was not to be. Sears, stationed with the Army's First Cavalry in Fallujah, learned this month that his tour was extended to March.

His mother took the trip anyway, but a phone call from Iraq was no substitute for a hug from Eric in person. "I got to talk to him while I was in Texas and I got very choked up and very teary," said Sears. "He can't share anything because of terrprism. We really don't know how he's doing." She returned from Texas this week, but she said her thoughts are with her son, her daughter-in-law and her grandson. "He's missing all the firsts the walking, the talking and potty training, all the things a dad should be doing," she said.

"I just feel bad they are not together now." Homecomings For several Rochester families, Christmas day will mark bittersweet reunions. Marine Lance Cpl. Marshall Becoats, 24, is home in Gates this Christmas after a nine-month tour, his second, in Iraq. "Yes, it's do with the sale. Ryan Kenne "Certainly the relationship dy's mother, Deborah of Pittsford, said has been absolutely fine since that was settled, he said.

Although ownership will change, management of the Rochester malls will not. Wilmorite has been contracted to continue to run the malls, plus Pittsford Plaza and Eastview Commons, the two strip centers in the transaction. That was good news for some local tenants. "We love them," said Don Rhoda, owner of The Red Barn, a Pittsford Plaza men's store. "The nicest The merger with Macerich, which had revenue of roughly $500 million in 2003, could be good news for Rochester shop not planning a I aj bis celebration pers, Anderson said.

Many of tnis unnstmas. "We are looking forward to Kennedy ward to next year's holiday, Macench's malls are in California and Arizona. "What Macerich brings to the table is access hopefully." The uneasiness about the hol idays is understandable. Families and friends of servicemen and servicewomen are coping with fears, separation and a bag part of being in a center like this is you have a person you can talk to." But Nancy Bliss, owner of Designs of Silk and More in Greece Ridge of mixed emotions. Some cope by writing e-mails, sending care Base in Germany in December 2002.

Christmas 2003, he was in Baghdad. This year he's back in packages or keeping daily jour II nals. Some are just praying, trying to stay away from television news and planning for the Rhoda Perez SOURCE: Wilmorite Property Management Malls FROM PAGE 1A looked at the portfolio before Wilmorite recently narrowed its choice to Macerich, he added. "The regional mall development business has ground to a halt," said Andrew Dollinger, a broker who specializes in retail with CB Richard Ellis. So the only way their REITs can grow is to acquire." Add strong occupancy at the Wilmorite properties and low interest rates and "it's almost like the perfect storm," he said.

Donald Robinson, a vice president with Benderson Development Co. said he wasn't surprised with the short period between offering and sale. Earlier this year, Benderson sold its retail holdings, including several Rochester-area centers, to Cleveland REIT Developers Diversified Realty Corp. for $2.3 billion. "The malls are great properties," he said.

"And (buyers) are knocking on doors because of the pricing." But the market conditions were just one reason why Wilmorite sold, said Wilmot, son of one of the two founders. "It's really pretty complex, a combination of the market and diverse partnership interests we had with some of the properties," he said. "That's about all I can say about it." Macerich bought just Wilmorite's share of three properties with combined ownership The Marketplace, Pittsford Plaza and Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va. to some tenants that are perhaps not in our markets," he said. "We are going to work together with them to bring some new and exciting new tenants into our markets." The merger eventually will lead to job losses for some of 125 Wilmorite workers.

Anderson said it was too homecoming. Meghan St. Onge, Justin Case's girlfriend, still lives in the couple's apartment in Gates. They've dated for three years. Justin's mother calls Meghan her daughter-in-law.

Meghan said she talks to Jus tin every day through her letters and e-mails. It doesn't ease the Cos pain of separation, but it does make her feel they are having a daily conversation even if he cannot always answer. Center, hopes the new owners will help small local tenants like herself. Wilmorite Properties retains the Sibley Building downtown, part of Suburban Plaza in Henrietta and is in the process of disposing of two malls in Illinois and Michigan. "But nothing precludes us from doing additional development," said Wilmot, who will remain chairman of Wilmorite.

About 50 Wilmot family members, most of whom are not actively involved in the operations, will benefit from the sale, Wilmorite officials said. In the late 1990s, two cousins sued Wilmot, claiming he mismanaged the family fortune, and Wilmot countered by saying the cousins were driven by greed. The squabble was settled in 1998, with the terms sealed. Wilmorite President and Chief Executive John Anderson re, I tell him the weird things Kamis his mother and father are going to him. "This will be a nice Christmas for all of us," said Joan Rainis, Michael's mother.

But last Christmas is still fresh for the mother of the Fairport High and West Point graduate. She remembers how difficult it was for the whole family. They sent packages to their son and his men weekly with candy, socks and batteries. And they prayed for his safety, a lot. Joan said last Christmas, her son was giving presents to his men, and in the background they could hear explosions and small-arms fire.

This year will be different. But in the back of the minds of Joan and her husband, Ken, is the probability that their son will be back in Iraq next Christmas. "We just put that in God's hands," she said. "We are not going to worry about that now. We are just going to enjoy him while we can." JBLACKWELLlaiDemocratandChronicle.com that happen to me every day," she said.

very nice to be home," he said. "But the ones who relieved me, they are the ones who are going to miss Christmas." Becoats, a ra "I have to because when I do, soon to determine how many jobs would be affected. Meanwhile, some shoppers at Pittsford Plaza don't think they will notice any changes. "I really don't care who owns it as long as it has good stores," said Vivian Perez, 26, of Rochester. But Brighton resident Jenny Cos, 41, said, "I'd rather have local management than a large company.

"We try to buy from locally-owned stores." FBILOViSDemocratandChronicle.com MCHAOfi DemocratandChronicle.com it feels like I'm talking to him like he was here." Becoats Justin's mother is cautiously planning a week of holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays when he gets home. You can't make plans. You can't dar operator with a swift boat unit, is probably headed back to the front in January for a third tour. His mother, Cynthia Demps, is holding on tight to her son this holiday. "I never cook breakfast, but I come home from work early to cook for him," she said.

"It's going to be hard to let him go." even get your hopes up because he could be redeployed, all kinds of things could happen." Veenstra and his family said it is difficult to be in the mood to Wilmot remains on casino quest celebrate the holidays knowing HAPPY HOLIDAYS! FRANK BILOVSKY STAFF WRITER For the past several years, Thomas C. Wilmot has been wearing two hats. Despite TODAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, SHOP ALL STORES billion transaction free up money for the casino ventures? "Certainly," he said. Wilmot most recently proposed spending $500 million on a casino and hotel in downtown Rochester at the sites of the Sibley Building, which his company owns, and Midtown Plaza. It was another attempt to find locations for gambling establishments he wants to develop for the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.

Wilmot says he has invested $3 million to $4 million to help the tribe settle a land claim with the state of New York. In 2002, Wilmot had an agreement with the state to build two casinos in upstate New York. But those plans were scuttled recently when the Seneca-Cayugas dropped proposals for an upstate casino in exchange for the right to build one in Sullivan County in the Catskills. Wilmot also worked beginning in the mid-1990s with the Golden Hill Paugusetts in an attempt to build a waterfront casino in Bridgeport, Conn. Wilmot has said retail and casino development are related.

"(Gambling) is just another form of entertainment really. it's no different than any other real estate development," he said. FBILOV'a DemocratandChronicle.com Thursday's announcement that Wilmorite Properties impressive stable of malls will be transferred to a California real estate invest- JAM rfDPM "00 Wilmot TOMORROW, CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL STORES CLOSED SUNDAY, SHOP ALL STORES VISA ment trust early next year, Wilmot will continue to wear both chairman of the company and gambling casino promoter. Wilmot confirmed that he and his son, Thomas would continue to seek opportunities to develop and manage casinos for Native American tribes. But he said that eliminating ownership of the 11 malls and two open-air shopping centers would not necessarily allow him to devote more time to pursue gambling.

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