Development/Redevelopment

CBRE made known its intent to make an aggressive push in San Francisco with its December hire of Matt Kircher, a veteran of Terranomics with more than 20 years of leasing experience in Northern California. This week CBRE filled out the new director of leasing’s executive staff.   Joining Kircher are first vice presidents Jessica Birmingham, Annie Prupas, and Katie Singer; vice president Drew Greenspan; associate broker Meaghan Haley; senior GIS specialist Gary Palubicki; and client services coordinator Andrea Chavez.

Dunkin’ Donuts is growing its footprint in Alabama and Mississippi.   The chain signed development agreements with two franchise groups to develop 17 locations throughout the two states during the next several years.   Existing franchisee Birmingham Donut Holdings plans to develop nine new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama.  The group currently operates 34 restaurants throughout Alabama and Florida.   

Brixmor Property Group has purchased Arborland Center, a 404,000-sq.-ft. center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for $102 million. The center is anchored by Kroger and Nordstrom Rack and is situated between the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

CBL has sold Cobblestone Village, ad 96,891-sq.-ft. center in Palm Coast, Florida, to RCG Ventures, a privately funded real estate investment group. The selling price was not disclosed.   The Belk-anchored center is a quarter-mile from the Interstate 95 interchange and is adjacent to Lowe’s and Walmart. It was “highly sought after by a variety of institutional and private investors,” said John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, which handled the sale on behalf of CBL.  

Another online retailer has made the jump to the physical space.   Brilliant Earth announced plans to open three new locations, in San Diego, California; Washington, D.C.; and Denver, during the spring and summer. The new showrooms will join the retailer’s five other existing locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.  

Ross Stores continues to maintain an aggressive store expansion strategy.   The retailer recently opened 23 Ross Dress for Less stores and five dd's Discounts stores across 15 different states in February and March. The new locations are part of the company's plans to add approximately 70 Ross stores and 20 dd's locations during 2017.  

Decron Properties’ sale of a Target-anchored center in Las Vegas was its sixth disposition of an office or retail asset in the last two years as it continues to focus on multi-family housing projects.   The $17.5 million sale of the Flamingo Maryland center near the Las Vegas Strip added to a bank of $300 million in proceeds realized from the deals that the Los Angeles based company put toward the purchase of seven multifamily communities in California.  

Saks Fifth Avenue is adding to its store fleet up north.   On Thursday, March 9, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open two new locations in the greater Toronto area,      “This month marks our one year anniversary of entering the Canadian market, and we’re excited to continue our Canadian expansion with two new stores in the GTA,” said Jonathan Greller, president, Saks Off 5th and Gilt.