New developments
San Diego The half-billion-dollar mixed-use development formerly known as The Pointe at Anaheim has a new name The Garden District and a commitment from Orlando, Fla.-based Grand Theme Hotels to build three themed resorts within the project.
In addition, Grand Theme has reserved the right of first refusal on the development's fourth hotel site. Locally based Excel Legacy Corp. begins construction in April 2002 on Phase I of The Garden District, which will ultimately comprise 600,000 sq. ft. of retail.
New York Groundbreaking recently took place at MBD New Horizons, a $30.7 million, 134,000-sq.-ft. community center in one of the South Bronx's most under-served areas. Anchored by a 24-hour, 48,500-sq.-ft. Pathmark supermarket, the center has a tenant lineup including Athlete's Foot, Blockbuster Video, G&G Shops and Rockaway Bedding. The center is owned by a joint venture between South Bronx community housing and development group Mid-Bronx Desperadoes (MBD) and non-profit organization Neighborhood Enhancement and Training Services.
Charlottesville, Va. Fancher/Kaser Partners of Newport Beach, Calif., is developing Albermarle Place Town Center a mixed-use project near the University of Virginia. Phase I, scheduled to open in fall 2003, will feature a 1.15 million-sq.-ft. New Urbanism project including residential, office and hotel uses.
In addition, Phase 1 will include 629,000 sq. ft. of specialty retail, dining and theaters. Albermarle Place is a joint venture with locally based Landonomics Group/Ezon Inc.
Dayton, Ohio Columbus, Ohio-based Steiner + Associates is developing Indian Creek Commons on 70 acres fronting Interstate 675. The 900,000-sq.-ft. town center development will feature pedestrian-friendly streets and public plazas. The developer is currently leasing a total of 628,000-sq.-ft. of retail and entertainment space, including two 80,000-sq.-ft. anchor spots.
Indian Creek Commons will also feature 125,000 sq. ft. of office space and two hotels. Baltimore's Development Design Group Inc. serves as architect on the project, which is scheduled to open in 2003.
Scottsdale, Ariz. The Scottsdale Waterfront, a 1 million-sq.-ft., mixed-use urban village, is underway for completion in late 2002. Designed by Phoenix-based DFD Architecture, the project will horizontally and vertically integrate Class A office space, specialty retail, a boutique hotel and upscale residential space on an 11.5-acre site. Scottsdale Waterfront LLC, which is managed by an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, owns the land, rights, licenses and entitlements to the project and has retained locally based Artemis Realty Investments to serve as interim developer.
St. Louis Site work begins next month on Walpert Properties' 111,000-sq.-ft. St. John's Crossing. Located in north St. Louis County, the community center will be anchored by a 68,000-sq.-ft. Shop 'n Save. Ficon Inc. will serve as general contractor, Clayton Engineering as civil engineer and Lark & Associates as architect.
Redevelopments
Houston Locally based MetroNational has announced plans to redevelop and revitalize Memorial City a 200-acre urban development that encompasses a healthcare campus, cultural and hospitality venues, office space and Memorial City Mall. Phase I of the redevelopment involves $110 million worth of updates to the 2 million sq. ft. mall, including the addition of a 300,000-sq.-ft. Foley's flagship and a 140,000-sq.-ft. Lord & Taylor prototype.
Also, Dillard's will relocate from nearby Town & Country mall and begin construction in January 2001 on a new, two-level location at Memorial City Mall. Target Greatland, which recently acquired the mall's dark Montgomery Ward anchor space, is considering various redevelopment options, while existing anchors Sears and Mervyn's will remain in place.
The mall interior will adopt a streetscape plan with two-level storefronts, sculptures, elevated restaurants, rotundas and fountains. A 1,200-seat food court, a two-story carousel, an ice rink and an amphitheater will provide new focal points. Locally based Morris Architects is handling design duties for the project, while Venice, Calif.-based The Jerde Partnership serves as urban planner.
Chicago-based General Growth Properties will manage and lease the mall. Phase I is scheduled for completion in November 2002. Phase II, which will include construction of a hotel and additional commercial buildings, will be finished by 2003.
Panama City Beach, Fla. Pier Park, a public/private venture between the City of Panama City Beach and Jacksonville, Fla.'s The St. Joe Co., is aiming to rejuvenate the city's pier district. A phased project to be completed during the next several years, Pier Park will offer more than 260 acres of entertainment, retail and restaurant options.
Phase I, which will encompass a 200,000-sq.-ft. value retail center, a 13,000-sq.-ft. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant, a 1,500-seat Grand Ole Opry Theater and an 80-acre public park, will break ground this fall. The first phase, which will also include 50,000 sq. ft. of specialty retail, will open in spring 2002.
White Plains, N.Y. A $270 million retail, entertainment and residential complex is the planned replacement for a dark downtown Macy's. Valhalla, N.Y.-based Cappelli Enterprises is redeveloping the old store, bulldozing the 7.2-acre site and starting from scratch.
Called White Plains Town Center, the new, three-level development will include 495,000 sq. ft. of retail, a movie theater, restaurants, 500 luxury apartments and a new, 2,038-space parking garage that will be linked to the site via pedestrian bridge and underground tunnel. Completion is scheduled for June 2002.
Dallas Spire Realty Group, the Texas development arm of New York-based Smith Management, is converting Main Street's vacant, 900,000-sq.-ft. Mercantile Complex into a mixed-use project featuring apartments and retail.
Vacant since 1993, the $82 million project finally became economically viable in March when the city council voted to provide $21.7 million in public funds from the downtown tax-increment financing district. RTKL is masterplanning the redevelopment, which will include 117,000 sq. ft. of retail on two levels.
Renovations
Chicago For the first time since opening its doors 25 years ago, landmark Water Tower Place is getting a new look. Developer Urban Retail Properties commissioned Newport Beach, Calif.-based Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo to design $15 million worth of renovations.
Water Tower Place's new enhanced features will include a new glass-enclosed lobby, additional interior space, new corner bay windows to increase street-front presence for retailers, and new seating areas, carpet and flooring. Construction, which is underway, is being performed by Homewood, Ill.-based Graycor.
Willow Grove, Penn. Philadelphia-based PREIT's flagship Willow Grove Park mall is undergoing a comprehensive renovation and expansion to incorporate a fourth anchor department store, Macy's, and a three-level parking deck.
The family-friendly parking deck will include state-of-the-art security features and indoor bridges connecting to mall entrances. The mall's current anchors are Bloomingdale's, Strawbridges and Sears. The renovation Willow Grove Park's first since opening in 1982 will be completed in November 2001.