Development/Redevelopment

Northbrook, Ill. -- Pine Tree Commercial Realty announced it has acquired Loch Leven Plaza in the Orlando, Fla. suburbs, expanding Pine Tree’s portfolio to include the state of Florida.

The company purchased the Publix-anchored shopping center in Mt. Dora, Fla., on Nov. 5. Pine Tree will be handling the property management and leasing for the center.

Publix occupies 54,340 sq. ft. at the new plaza and opened last May. The center, which was completed in March, is 99% leased.

Miramar Beach, Fla. -- New Balance announced that it opened its first factory store in Northwest Florida at Silver Sands Factory Stores on Thursday.

The 4,825-sq.-ft. store offers New Balance shoes and apparel for women, men and children. New Balance Factory Store is located near Swarovski at the east part of the center.

“We chose Silver Sands because we wanted to open in a high-performing center that has a great portfolio of brands,” said Stephen Dix, general manager of retail operations for New Balance.

Sylvania, Ohio -- Sylvania Sports World announced it has opened a 12,800-sq.-ft. store at Starlite Plaza, located in Sylvania, Ohio.

The shopping center is owned by New York City-based Centro Properties Group.

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that it opened the second phase of Houston Premium Outlets in Cypress, Texas.

The 114,000-sq.-ft. expansion brings the property to a total of 541,000 sq. ft. of gross leasable area (GLA) and 145 stores.

New York City -- Disney Store has opened its largest store to date, a 20,000-sq.-ft. emporium in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. The two-level space is colorful and interactive, and features an array of kid-friendly attractions.

"This store is designed to give kids the best 30 minutes of their day," said Jim Fielding, president, Disney Store Worldwide. Fielding said the store anticipates some 11,000 visitors daily.

Chicago -- Exiting what was labeled the biggest real estate bankruptcy in U.S. history, General Growth Properties has emerged from Chapter 11 protection as two separate companies.

The country’s second-largest U.S. mall owner said Wednesday that it has spun off Howard Hughes Corp., an owner of master-planned communities and other properties.

The shares of the newly separate General Growth, as well as the shares of Howard Hughes, will begin trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.