article-14083.xml

DEVELOPMENT

CBL & Associates Properties, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Robert B. Aikens & Associates, Birmingham, Mich., have formed a joint-venture partnership, along with development partner BDR, Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., to develop the Village of Orchard Hills project in Grand Rapids Township, Mich. The 400,000-sq.-ft. open-air, mixed-use lifestyle center will begin construction in fall 2007 and is slated to open in spring 2009. … Greenwich, Conn.-based Gordon Group Holdings and Rubin Stahl have partnered with Morgan Stanley Real Estate Equity Fund to build Lac Mirabel, a $400-million mixed-use complex 30 miles north of Montreal. The project will include 1.9 million sq. ft. of retail and entertainment space. … Chicago-based General Growth Properties has joint-ventured with Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. to develop a 300,000-sq.-ft. retail promenade as part of an 87-acre resort masterplan development called Echelon, located on the Las Vegas Strip.

ACQUISITIONS

Trademark Property Co., Fort Worth, Texas, has agreed to acquire the Padre Staples Mall in Corpus Christi, Texas. The 1 million-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney and Macy’s. Plans are under way for a phase-one, $15 million renovation. … Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers has acquired a 65.31-acre tract in North Las Vegas, on which it will develop Deer Springs Town Center, a 700,768-sq.-ft. shopping center anchored by a national general merchandise retailer and a home-improvement superstore.

MARKETING

Cleveland-based Developers Diversified Realty hosted its first-ever “Kids With Heart” program that honored 10 outstanding youth across the country. The program recognized young people “who have made a difference in their communities,” said John Kokinchak, senior VP of property management.