Development/Redevelopment

Chicago -- A real estate report released Wednesday by Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s Urban Team found that much of Chicago lacks the type of product that today’s downsized big-box retailers are looking for.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Burberry, Tag Heuer and Wolford will join Westfield Valley Fair’s collection of luxury retailers, marking the debut of the South Bay shopping center’s first phase of significant expansion.

The new stores will join Cartier, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. on the east side of Westfield Valley Fair.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets announced that it has signed a lease for its first store in the state of North Carolina. The company said it is looking forward to continued growth in the state, and that the new location will be part of a new division based in Charlotte.

The 56,000-sq. ft. store, which will be located in Ballantyne, N.C., is scheduled to open in early 2014.
 

Santa Monica, Calif. -- SPL Realty Partners, exclusively representing Australian women’s activewear retailer Lorna Jane, announced 11 leases have been secured for Lorna Jane’s expansion into the United States.

The retail sites are located throughout the Southern California region including stores in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Irvine and Huntington Beach.

A warehouse was also secured for the support of the network of retail stores and online fulfillment in Santa Monica, Calif.

Tomball, Texas -- Houston-based Baker Katz, an X Team International partner, announced that Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods is the newest tenant to sign a lease at Four Corners Shopping Center in Tomball, Texas. Spec’s will open a 22,000-sq.-ft. store.

Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- WS Capital Partners, the institutional investment arm of WS Development, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hilldale Shopping Center, a 474,000-sq.-ft. retail center located in Madison, Wis.

Anchored by Macy’s, Metcalfe’s Market, Sundance Cinemas and Target, Hilldale Shopping Center serves the entire Madison metropolitan area, including the nearby University of Wisconsin-Madison.

South Gate, Calif. -- Primestor Development announced that Azalea Regional Shopping Center has launched construction in South Gate, Calif. The 380,000-sq.-ft. project, expected to be completed by early 2014, will include retailers, restaurants and services in a modern setting with water features, a large open-air plaza, Wi-Fi and gathering areas.

Houston -- Wulfe & Co., managing partner of Blvd Place, said that construction has started on Phase II of the mixed-use development located in The Uptown District of Houston.

Blvd Place will contain retail, office and residential components in an urban environment. This phase of the project is 60% pre-leased and will contain approximately 211,000 sq. ft. of upscale retail, restaurant and office space. The retail space will be anchored by a 48,500-sq.-ft. Whole Foods Market.