The developer of a proposed Deerfield Township mall has shelved plans to build the project less than a week after learning upscale retailer Nordstrom no longer wants to be a part of it.

        Duke-Weeks Realty Corp. has pulled its request for a zoning hearing scheduled Monday that was needed to allow the mall development off Mason-Montgomery Road to move forward.

        A Duke-Weeks spokesman said concerns over technical problems with a traffic study prompted the company to withdraw the zoning request. But the Indianapolis-based real estate firm also acknowledged that the departure of Nordstrom — the only anchor tenant named for the 80-acre site — will halt its plans to build the southern Warren County mall indefinitely.

        “This does not diminish our commitment to developing the project as a retail site,” Duke-Weeks spokes man Ernie Reno said. “It just impacts the timetable of the project.”

        Nordstrom Inc. seemingly fulfilled a years-long courtship by local planners and economic development officials in May when it announced it would build a store in Deerfield Township and one in downtown Cincinnati. But the Seattle-based retailer, staggering from financial troubles, announced less than three weeks ago that it would suspend the downtown store at Fifth and Race streets. It said Monday that the Deerfield Township store is on hold, too.

        Nordstrom said it would reconsider the downtown Cincinnati store in another year, but it made no such commitment for the Deerfield Township site.

        Stunned by Nordstrom's announcement earlier this week, Deerfield Township officials said Friday they weren't surprised that Duke-Weeks opted to delay development of the anchorless mall. It's standard not to pursue development of a mall until anchor stores have committed.

        “I think Nordstrom would have been a very good addition to Greater Cincinnati,” said Larry Backus, Deerfield Township trustee. “I think Nordstrom and the Rouse people are looking, reviewing their business plan, which is understandable in light of the current economy.”

        Duke-Weeks, primarily an in dustrial and office real-estate developer, owns the site and tapped Maryland-based Rouse Co. to build the mall. Rouse is working with Nordstrom on seven other projects and is still talking with the retailer about the Warren County site, Mr. Reno said.

        Rouse officials couldn't be reached Friday.

        Mr. Reno said Duke-Weeks will pursue some type of upscale retail development at the site.

        What seemed like a shopper's feast in Cincinnati's northern sub urbs is quickly turning to famine. Plans for another mall in Monroe at the Warren County and Butler County line were killed earlier this year when transportation planners refused to approve an interchange off Interstate 75.

        Mr. Reno said the area is too appealing to stay undeveloped much longer.

        “We are still committed to developing retail at the site,” Mr. Reno said. “Whether it will still be a mall, that remains to be seen.”

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