Move over, Stamford: Norwalk may very well soon become the new shopping epicenter of Fairfield County pending construction of a new mall, which is now entering its final planning stages.

On Wednesday, construction for the mall—called The SoNo Collection—was cleared by the Norwalk Zoning Commission. The announcement was a major victory for its developers, General Growth Properties (GGP), which can now focus its attention on getting clearance from the state.

According to The Hour, GGP must now “get through the state permitting process, including the Office of State Traffic Administration, finish construction drawings and go out to bid.”

As The Hour reports, construction will hopefully break ground this summer or fall and should be completed in three years. The mall will feature over 700,000 square feet of retail space, with 80 to 100 stores including Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s. It will also feature a hotel, a parking garage and a public space. What’s more, The SoNo Collection will feature multiple gardens for an enhanced shopping experience.

We here at Apex Technology—premier computer consultants for Fairfield County and New York City—are big supporters of the project, as we think it will be a major boost to the local economy. We reached out directly to GGP for advice on how local business owners and residents can help further the project, and are waiting to hear back.

We’ll keep you posted on the latest news regarding The SoNo Collection, including local public or state hearings. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to write to the Office of the State Traffic Administration to voice your support for the project.

For contact information, click here.