Development/Redevelopment

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports announced plans to build a wholesaling and logistics facility in Alabaster, Ala.

Construction on the new 360,000-sq.-ft. center is expected to commence in fall 2012 with the facility expected to be fully operational by fall 2014. When completed, it will replace the existing 180,000-sq.-ft. facility that the company currently leases in Birmingham.
 

New York -- Drugstore retailer Duane Reade, a division of Walgreens, is expanding its Manhattan footprint with a second distinct location in the city’s Financial District. The new, 22,000-sq.-ft. store boasts a number of amenities, and—in a first for a U.S. drug store—also features a museum-quality exhibit that pays tribute to the neighborhood and hallowed grounds of downtown Manhattan. 

HOUSTON — Ikea has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston, Texas – which, when combined with Ikea projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make Ikea the state’s largest solar owner. Ikea Houston’s 116,400-square-foot PV array consists of a 813-kW system, built with 3,388 panels.

Houston -- Ikea on Monday officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston. The installation, when combined with Ikea solar projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make the home furnishings retailer the state’s largest solar owner.

NEW YORK — Manhattan-based retailer Duane Reade is expanding its footprint with a second distinct location in the historic American Surety building in the city’s Financial District.

New York -- Ikea has been rebuffed by India on a request to relax rules on buying goods locally, Reuters reported, citing a government source. The rebuff is likely to delay Ikea’s entry into the Indian retail market.

In June, Ikea said it would invest approximately $1.86 billion and open 25 stores in India. But the chain was seeking a 10-year window to comply with India’s rule that foreign retailers source 30% from local small and medium-sized firms. The requirement is seen by overseas companies as a hindrance to investment.

Greenwich, Conn. -- Private investment firm Starwood Capital Group announced that an affiliate of Starwood has completed its acquisition of a 90% majority interest in seven U.S. shopping centers from the Westfield Group.

Westfield retained a 10% minority interest in the portfolio.

Starwood also announced that it has formed a new subsidiary, Starwood Retail Partners, to be based in Chicago, to oversee the management of the newly acquired assets and has named Scott Wolstein, co-founder of DDR, as its CEO. 

Moorestown, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that video game retailer Play N Trade has opened a 1,712-sq.-ft. store at Moorestown Mall, located in Moorestown, N.J.

Moorestown Mall is a 1 million-sq.-ft. enclosed regional shopping mall anchored by Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and Boscov’s.