Development/Redevelopment

New York City -- Ikea plans to use solar energy in its store under construction in the Denver suburb of Centennial. Pending governmental permits, installation of solar panels on the store’s roof will begin in February, with completion by grand opening this fall.

Pearl River, N.J. -- Katz & Associates, the exclusive broker for Eastern Mountain Sports, announced that the retailer has executed a lease for a 3,000-sq.-ft. flagship on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The two-level store, EMS’ second to date in Manhattan, will be located on the southeast corner of Broadway and West 76th Street. It is scheduled to open this fall.

Indianapolis  -- Simon Property Group will assume leasing, management, and marketing duties at The Shops at Montebello, in Rosemead, Calif., effective Feb. 1.

"We are pleased to take on the property management functions of this high-quality asset at the request of the institutional owner," said Rick Sokolov, Simon's president and COO.

Orange, Va. -- Wal-Mart Stores has abandoned its plans to build a Walmart Superstore near a Civil War battlefield in Virginia. The retailer’s lawyers made the announcement Wednesday in a northern Virginia court, where a judge has been hearing a case to block the plan.

Chicago -- Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction said Wednesday it has embarked on five new projects -- four in the Midwest and one in Washington, D.C.

In the Chicago area, Englewood has been tapped for three new retail projects, including the interior build-out for a new Trader Joe’s coming to the city’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Trader Joe’s will occupy 14,801 sq. ft. of first-floor retail space, topped by a two-story parking deck. The new store is slated to open in April.

Indio, Calif. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has signed a lease and begun construction on a new Toys “R” Us/Babies “R” Us store at Indio Towne Center in Indio, Calif.

The 46,827-sq.-ft. location will replace the retailer’s store in Palm Desert and become its only location in Southern California’s Coachella Valley.

Hackettstown, N.J. -- Purchase, N.Y.-based National Realty & Development Corp. said that Party City has leased 15,000 sq. ft. at Mansfield Commons, located in Hackettstown, N.J.

The 283,000-sq.-ft. shopping center is anchored by a recently expanded Walmart and Kohl’s.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Crosland has announced new openings and tenant signings at various third-party managed and leased retail centers throughout the Charlotte, N.C., area.

Ruby’s Gift opened a 1,323-sq.-ft. store at Colony Shops in early December, the retailer’s third Charlotte location.

Om Spa Chiropractic & Wellness is relocating its business from The Arlington to the newly renovated The Villa shopping center, and is slated to open the 3,048-sq.-ft. facility in January.

Manville, N.J. -- Purchase, N.Y.-based National Realty & Development Corp. said that Dollar Zone has leased 15,000 sq. ft. and Leslie’s Swimming Pool Supplies has leased 2,970 sq. ft. at Marketplace at Manville, located in Manville, N.J.

Both retailers are slated to open this spring.

Walmart, A&P Supermarket and Reading Cinema anchor the 275,354-sq.-ft. center, which is now 100% leased.

La Vista, Neb. -- Baltimore-based The Cordish Cos. said Monday that it will develop an upscale outlet center and entertainment district in La Vista’s Southport West Development. The burgeoning Omaha suburb is already home to a Cabela’s, La Vista Conference Center and several hotels.