Development/Redevelopment

Sarasota, Fla. – Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman Centers and Sarasota, Fla.-based Benderson Development Co. announced the ground breaking on a $315-million, 880,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in Sarasota, Fla.

The Mall at University Town Center will be a two-level enclosed mall anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s and Macy’s, and featuring more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants.

The Mall at University Town Center is scheduled to open in Oct. 2014.

Waynesville, N.C. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced the opening of its newest community center development, Waynesville Commons, a 127,500-sq.-ft. community center in Waynesville, N.C.  

Joining the existing Walmart, the 100% leased center is anchored by an 85,000-sq.-ft. Belk, Michaels and PetSmart, along with 11,000 sq. ft. of specialty stores including US Cellular and Rack Room Shoes.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- The Macerich Co. announced on Monday plans to acquire Kings Plaza, located in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Green Acres Mall, located in Valley Stream, N.Y., on the border of New York City and Nassau County. 

Kings Plaza is being acquired from a subsidiary of Alexander's for $751 million, with a closing date set for late 2012. Green Acres is being acquired from a subsidiary of Vornado Realty Trust for $500 million, with a first quarter 2013 closing date.

New York -- Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group said that jewelry designer Alexis Bittar will open a new store at 410 Columbus Avenue, between 79th and 80th Streets, in New York City. It is the designer’s fourth Manhattan store; the other three are on Madison Avenue, in Soho and in the West Village.

With nine stores nationwide, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Venice in California, Chicago, Manhattan and a brand new one in Greenwich, Conn., the brand is in expansion mode and currently planning possible Florida locations.

Hollywood, Calif. – Four new tenants have opened at Hollywood & Highland Center – the retail, dining and entertainment venue located on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Mr. Koji’s, GNC, Sweet! Hollywood candy store and Kitson fashion boutique have all recently opened and will be joined by another group of impending openings.

Chilli Beans, a Brazilian sunglasses retailer, is slated to open on Oct. 31; L'Occitane will open on Nov. 1; Zinzi jewelry will open Dec. 1; and Cho Oishi will open its Japanese restaurant in Feb. 2013.

Milwaukee -- Opus Development Corp. announced the scheduled openings of T.J Maxx, Ulta Salon and Cosmetics, Rue 21 and Charming Charlie’s by Oct. 28 at the company’s Shoppes at Fox River development in Waukesha, Wis.

Opus broke ground on the first development in Phase II of the Shoppes at Fox River in April 2012. The development includes more than 47,000 sq. ft. of retail space on six acres of land adjacent to the existing Phase I buildings, which opened in 2009 and include Target and Pick ‘n Save.

Melrose, Mass. -- Charter Realty and Development Corp. said it has acquired the 52,000-sq.-ft. Towers Plaza for $8.6 million.

The neighborhood shopping center, located in Melrose, Mass., a suburb of Boston, was originally built in 1965 and later renovated and expanded. It is anchored by Johnnie’s Foodmaster Supermarket and Rite Aid.  

Charter said it anticipates doing a façade renovation as well as upgrades to the common area. The work will commence this fall and continue in the spring.

Franklin Township, N.J. -- Crossroads Cos., based in Mahwah, N.J., announced that three new Crossroads at Somerset lease agreements have rendered the retail Phase II component of the grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping center fully occupied.

Integrated Health, La Vida Massage and and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will join the 118,000-sq.-ft, mixed-use project, already tenanted by Verizon Wireless, My Tokyo Sushi, Let’s Yo Frozen Yogurt, Frank’s Pizza and Hair Cuttery.

Bossier City, La. -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced the opening of a new 7,918-sq.-ft. Santa Fe Cattle Co. restaurant at its Stirling Bossier Shopping Center property, located on Airline Drive in Bossier City.

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Santa Fe Cattle Co. operates 19 locations in six states, including four in Louisiana.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. -- Taubman Centers announced it has hired Colleen O’Neill as the general manager of Taubman Prestige Outlets Chesterfield, effective Nov. 5. She will be responsible for overseeing center operations as well as retailer and community relations, marketing and sponsorship.

O’Neill was the former marketing director of Saks Fifth Avenue at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis. The announcement of her hiring follows Taubman’s decision to move up the opening date of the high-end outlet shopping center to August 2, 2013.