Development/Redevelopment

NEW YORK — Limited access to healthy, affordable food choices, is an oft-cited reason for poor food habits among the nation's less fortunate. In order to address this issue, hunger relief organization Philabundance has teamed up with retail design consultancy CBX to create a prototype for a not-for-profit grocery store.

New York -- Abercrombie & Fitch wants to turn the building that once housed the Beatles’ Apple Records into one of its namesake children’s stores, Bloomberg News reported.  

The building is where the famed singing group performed together for the last time, in 1969. The performance, which occurred on the roof, was filmed for the movie “Let It Be.” The Westminster borough council is due to vote on the proposal next week.

Sunrise, Fla. -- Ikea on Wednesday officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in City of Sunrise, Fla. It is the largest solar installation in South Florida and, when combined with Ikea projects already completed atop stores in Orlando and Tampa, will make Ikea the state’s largest non-utility solar owner. 

Miami -- Swire Properties and Bal Harbour Shops announced Wednesday they have agreed to an equity partnership to jointly develop the retail component of Brickell City Centre, currently under construction in the Brickell financial district of downtown Miami.

The 2.9 million-sq.-ft. Brickell City Centre will include 500,000 sq. ft. of high-end retail along with condominiums and hotel slated for completion in latter 2015.
 

New York -- RKF said WeNew York -- RKF said Wednesday it has arranged a 1,200-sq.-ft. lease with shoe retailer CHUCKiES at 1052 Lexington Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

This will become CHUCKiES’ third location in Manhattan, all on the Upper East Side. The new store will sit between 74th and 75th Streets along the western side of Lexington Avenue.
 
The new CHUCKiES will occupy 800 sq. ft. on ground floor of the building, as well as 400 sq. ft. of space in the basement.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Brixmor Property Group announced Wednesday that a 12,420-sq.-ft. Petco recently opened at Five Points, located in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Five Points.

Miami -- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Capital Markets experts announced Tuesday the firm has closed the sale of Miracle Marketplace in Miami on behalf of AWE Talisman.  

Heitman purchased the power center, which is located in the Coral Way submarket. The 243,047-sq.-ft., seven-story Class A vertical retail property is located along the Miracle Mile/Coral Way and is anchored by Nordstrom Rack, Ben Bath & Beyond, Marshalls, LA Fitness, PetSmart, DSW Shoe Warehouse and Ulta.

Hyannis, Mass. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said Tuesday that, as part of its major remerchandising of Southwind Plaza shopping center in Hyannis, Mass., Kohl’s and Whole Foods Market will be opening new stores at the Cape Cod property.

Kohl’s will begin construction of a nearly 55,000-sq.-ft. space in February with an opening planned for early October.  

Also joining the center with its first Cape location is Whole Foods Market, which will open a 26,000-sq.-ft. store in early 2014.
     

San Antonio, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial said Tuesday it has completed seven leases in the San Antonio market for Best Buy Mobile stores. Six of the stores, ranging in size from 1,500 sq. ft. to 4,500 sq. ft., opened in 2012 and the seventh is expected to open in 2013.

Katy, Texas -- Houston-based Vista Equities Group said that a lineup of new retailers and restaurants will open at its mixed-use development in Katy: LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.
 
Three new retailers opened for business in fourth quarter 2012, and six others have plans in place for first and second quarter openings this year. Lease locations include existing retail space in Phase I and in the new Phase II-A, currently under construction.