Real Estate

Silicon Valley companies paved the way for corporate America to offer non-traditional workplace amenities and now Target has joined their ranks.

Seattle -- Green-building consulting firm Paladino and Co. said Wednesday it has acquired S.D. Keppler & Associates, a green consultancy out of Rockville, Md.
 
The two firms have joined to establish a comprehensive consulting offering focused on elevating the impact of green real estate programs within business.

Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Regional grocer Meijer said Tuesday it will hire 12,000 new employees in preparation for the 2012 holiday shopping season. Most positions will be part-time.

According to Janet Emerson, executive VP of operations for Meijer, “Our goal is to deliver the best customer experience and the lowest prices, and as we continue to grow it's so important that we have the right levels of staff and the right people in those roles."

Rome, Ga. -- Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Storey Gibson Companies announced its acquisition of Mount Berry Square Mall in Rome, Ga.

The 476,778-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Belk, J.C. Penney and Sears.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced Monday the acquisition of $328 million of prime assets and the disposition of $12 million of non-prime assets during the quarter.

Year to date, the company closed $2 billion of acquisitions, including the joint venture with Blackstone's flagship real estate fund, and disposed of $137 million of non-prime assets.

As of the third quarter, DDR said it has raised gross common equity capital of $435 million through the issuance of 31.7 million new common shares to fund investments and lower leverage.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea announced it is submitting plans to the city of Merriam, Kansas, for a Kansas City-area store that would increase the Swedish retailer’s presence in the Midwestern United States.  

New York -- Data released Monday by the Associated General Contractors of America revealed that construction spending declined between July and August to an annualized rate of $837 billion, but increased compared with August 2011 driven largely by growing demand for residential, lodging and education construction.

Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced its Discover Mills outlet mall destination in Lawrenceville (Atlanta), Ga., will be renamed Sugarloaf Mills.

The new brand links the center with Sugarloaf Parkway, where it is situated. New exterior signage, website, brochures and other promotional materials will reflect the new name starting in October.