2016 is the projected date for Phase 1, which includes the giant mall:
http://metsblog.com/metsblog/sterlin...-redevlopment/
So that's the schedule for "rebuilding" the Coupons seem to be sticking to.
By that time expect a quick turnaround. Maybe the current prospects will be enough. If not expect the Wilpons to supplement them with free agents, but they'll be set up for "meaningful baseball in September" by then - enough to lure fans back to the stadium so they'll wander around the neighborhood and spend money.
Remember, when they got the go-ahead for Citi Field and got serious about stoking demand so they could charge scalper's prices moving into the new undersized facility, they turned things around from 71-91 to 97-65 with only one transition season in-between. It's easy to build a winner with New York revenue if you want. Problem is the Coupons usually prefer to put that money in their pockets.
The Coupons will spend money, but only to make even more money. Don't expect a winner too far ahead of the scheduled opening of the giant mall. It'll be interesting to see if legal challenges push back the scheduled opening of the construction and if this has any effect on the "rebuild", but my hunch is they'll be linked.