Development/Redevelopment

New York City -- Macy’s is undertaking a multi-million dollar remodel of its store in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The eight-floor, 227,000-sq.-ft. department store was last renovated in 1996, when it operated as Marshall Field’s. It became Macy’s in 2006.

The new décor will include a white ceramic floor, brighter lights and silver accents, the report said. The store’s first three levels will receive the lion’s share of the updates.

Orlando, Fla. -- Olive Garden plans to remodel or refresh more than half of its 700 plus restaurants across the United States to its new Tuscan farmhouse-inspired design.

Called “Via Tuscany,” the updated décor includes new tables, chairs and booths, a palette of warm, rustic tones and design elements of a farmhouse in Tuscany. Other updates include new window treatments.

Washington, D.C. -- Combined Properties announced that Jessica Berets has joined the company as Assistant General Counsel. 

Berets will be responsible for drafting, negotiating and consummating a variety of legal documents, including lease agreements with tenants in the commercial retail real estate portfolio managed by Combined Properties, and providing advice and counsel to the company's leasing, construction and property management departments.
 

Columbia, S.C. -- Edens & Avant announced it has appointed Peter Melmed as VP construction and development. 

Melmed will be based in Bethesda, Md., and will oversee the construction of large-scale development and redevelopments throughout the Edens & Avant portfolio.

Prior to joining Edens & Avant, Melmed was a real estate consultant at PJM Realty.

Fort Worth, Texas -- The Weitzman Group/Cencor Realty Services announced that Cinemark Holdings will construct a 14-screen, all-digital movie theater that will feature the company's new Cinemark NextGen design concept.   

Cinemark has entered into an agreement to purchase 10 acres in Presidio Junction, a 300-acre master-planned mixed-use development of LNR Property LLC, located eight miles north of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Foxborough, Mass. -- Patriot Place shopping center, located in Foxborough, Mass., announced that Charming Charlie boutique opened today, its first location in Massachusetts.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced plans to open a Nordstrom Rack in Boise, Idaho.

The 37,000-sq.-ft. store will be part of the Boise Towne Plaza shopping center and is expected to open in spring 2012.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores plans to expand its presence in the smaller cities of China, Ed Chan, CEO and president of the company’s China operations, said today at an investor meeting by video conference, Bloomberg reported.

The discounter may also buy more land to build stores in China, which it predicted will be the world’s largest grocery market by 2014, according to the report. Wal-Mart is building its seventh Sam’s Club outlet in the northeastern port city of Dalian, on the first plot of land it bought in the country.