East Court Village Named 2026 CoStar Impact Award Winner for Redevelopment of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2026

East Court Village Named 2026 CoStar Impact Award Winner for Redevelopment of the Year

Cullinan Properties, City of Pekin and Project Partners Recognized for Transformative Retail Redevelopment in Central Illinois

PEKIN, Ill. — East Court Village, a revitalized open-air shopping center in Pekin, Illinois, has been named the 2026 CoStar Impact Award Winner for Redevelopment of the Year, recognizing a significant commercial redevelopment that has helped reshape retail momentum and economic activity in the market.

The award was announced by CoStar News as part of its annual Impact Awards program, which honors commercial real estate projects and transactions transforming communities across the country.

Originally developed as one of central Illinois’ earliest enclosed shopping malls, East Court Village has undergone a long-term transformation into a modern retail destination. Its most recent redevelopment phase introduced national retailers including Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, and Five Below, while repositioning the center to better serve Pekin and the surrounding region.

“This recognition is incredibly meaningful to our team because East Court Village represents exactly the kind of work we believe in,” said Diane Cullinan Oberhelman, Chairman of Cullinan Properties. “We are proud to receive this award alongside the City of Pekin, whose leadership, vision, and partnership were critical in helping move this redevelopment forward. This was truly a collective effort. Our team at Cullinan, along with our outstanding design, construction, and project partners, all played an important role in bringing this to life. That level of collaboration is what makes projects like this successful and what helps create lasting momentum for a community.”

The redevelopment reflects a strong public-private partnership and a shared commitment to reinvestment, long-term community growth, and modern retail demand. The project was designed not only to reposition an aging asset, but to help retain consumer spending, strengthen local tax-generating activity, and create new leasing momentum within the Pekin market.

The redevelopment strategy also focused on adaptive reuse and efficient reinvestment, preserving key structural components of the former mall while modernizing the site for contemporary retail needs. By preserving portions of the original structures and reworking the site for a new generation of tenants and shoppers, East Court Village has become a model for how aging retail centers can be thoughtfully repositioned to better serve their communities.

“East Court Village is a strong example of what thoughtful redevelopment can accomplish,” said Ginger Benz, President, Government Solutions | Business Strategy, Cullinan Properties. “This project reflects the power of partnership, strategic reinvestment, and community-focused development. We are proud of what has been accomplished here and excited about what is still ahead.”
While the award recognizes the redevelopment completed to date, East Court Village continues to build momentum. The property’s next phase includes small shop leasing opportunities, continued retailer interest, and additional activity expected to further strengthen the center’s role within the regional retail landscape.

Cullinan Properties and the City of Pekin formally recognized the award during a recent on-site ceremony attended by project stakeholders, city representatives, and community partners.

Award Write-up and Center Picture can be found here: https://www.costar.com/article/497440291/central-illinois-first-enclosed-mall-evolves-once-again

Award Recognition
2026 CoStar Impact Award Winner
Redevelopment of the Year Project: East Court Village
Participants Involved
• City of Pekin
• NWS Architects
• Peoria Metro Construction Inc
• Diane Cullinan Oberhelman, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Eric Okleshen, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Ginger Benz, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Kathleen Brill, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Kyle Essex, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Ryan Whalen, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
• Samira Kashem, Cullinan Properties, Ltd.

Cullinan Properties is a nationally recognized commercial real estate development company specializing in mixed-use, retail, multifamily, office, healthcare, and government projects. For nearly four decades, Cullinan Properties has been committed to creating places that drive economic growth, strengthen communities, and deliver long-term value.

East Court Village is a revitalized open-air shopping center located in Pekin, Illinois. Once home to one of central Illinois’ earliest enclosed malls, the property has been transformed through multiple phases of redevelopment into a modern retail destination serving Pekin and the broader region. Its latest redevelopment phase introduced national retailers including Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, and Five Below, with additional leasing and reinvestment opportunities continuing to advance.

The CoStar Impact Awards recognize commercial real estate transactions and projects that have transformed their markets and communities over the past year. Winners are selected by independent panels of industry professionals working within the markets they judge.