Development/Redevelopment

Voorhees, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced Monday that Voorhees Town Hall has opened at the mixed-use Voorhees Town Center, located in Voorhees, N.J.

On Monday, more than 50 Voorhees Township employees moved in to the new municipal office, which is located on the upper level of the mall across from Macy’s and also features a street-level entrance.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it seems like you can’t pick up a paper or click a mouse lately without reading about some big box retailer rolling out its smaller store format. Target has its new 60,000-square-foot CityTarget concept, while Walmart has Walmart Neighborhood Market and Walmart Express stores. It seems like everyone is downsizing.

New York City -- Retail real estate columnist Jeff Green has unveiled his newest opine on Chain Store Age’s real estate community website, discussing the impact – both positive and negative – that reducing a store footprint could have on a store’s brand.

Los Angeles -- SPL Realty Partners announced that it has secured a retail space for footwear retailer Aerosoles in Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles.

The 2,059-sq.-ft. store is scheduled to open on May 19 in the new third phase of Citadel Outlets, the only outlet center in Los Angeles County. The space boasts almost 50 ft. of frontage and sits adjacent to Under Armour, across from adidas and converse and steps from a large parking field.

Houston -- The Vista Cos. and Vista Spring Green, Ltd. announced that McDonald's USA has signed a 56,000-sq.-ft. ground lease at The Plazas at Spring Green.

Construction on a new 4,800-sq.-ft. McDonald’s restaurant will begin in the coming weeks and is set to open in November.

The Plazas at Spring Green, a Vista Equities Group development, is located in Katy, Texas.

St. Paul, Minn. -- Paster Enterprises announced that Whole Foods Market is opening a 32,000-sq.-ft. standalone location at the company’s Minnetonka property.

Construction on the project, a joint venture between Paster Enterprises and Shiner Capital Partners, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm, officially began on April 20.

Frisco, Texas -- New York City-based Centro Properties Group said that The Foundry Big & Tall Supply Co. has opened at Preston Ridge, located in Frisco, Texas.

The 5,000-sq.-ft. store is part of the new Growth Brands Division at J.C. Penney Co.

Preston Ridge is owned by Centro.
 

San Francisco -- Gap plans to open stores in Serbia and Ukraine later this year as its continues to expand its international operations.

The chain said Friday that it signed new deals with existing franchise partners that will put Gap stores in Belgrade and Kiev.

According to Stephen Sunnucks, the company's international president, the Ukraine is the fastest-growing retail market in Eastern Europe, while Serbia has many young customers who enjoy shopping.