What's on Tap for RECon 2014?
When the International Council of Shopping Centers opens the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center on May 18 to shopping center attendees from around the globe, it will unveil a lineup of newly built and redeveloped properties ripe for deal-making.
On the following pages, Chain Store Age highlights five projects that will be on display at RECon 2014.
Hassalo on Eighth
Portland, Ore.
Developer: American Assets Trust
Construction status: Re-imagined urban village under development
Hassalo on Eighth is located between NE Multnomah and NE Holladay Streets on the north and south, and between NE 9th and 7th on the east and west. When completed, the project will attract a wide range of residents and visitors by offering a variety of housing options and retail spaces. The project will be LEED Platinum-certified, and includes a number of innovative green technologies, including recycling and reusing all of the building’s water.
The total number of residences will be 657, with approximately 593,000 sq. ft. of residential space and nearly 32,000 sq. ft. of retail. Also planned is a 26,000-sq.-ft. anchor tenant slated for grocery.
The project is located in one of five “EcoDistricts” planned in the Portland area. An ecodistrict is a multi-building development designed to maximize an area’s sustainability and livability features. Hassalo on Eighth demonstrates ecodistrict solutions while creating a sense of place around the environmental ethos of a community.
“An Eco-District shows how buildings can work together to create sustainable neighborhoods, not just exist in isolation, and represents the future of green design and development,” said John Chamberlain, CEO and president of American Assets Trust.
WestBend
Fort Worth, Texas
Developer: Trademark
Major tenants: Current tenants include Zoe’s Kitchen, Silver Fox, and the River Plaza office tenants; a 21,000-sq.-ft. The Fresh Market is slated to open in early 2015.
Construction status: A major expansion and redevelopment of the mixed-use development are currently underway.
WestBend is located on the Trinity River in Fort Worth’s University District, one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s strongest infill retail corridors. Current tenants include Zoe’s Kitchen, Silver Fox and the River Plaza office tenants. Upon completion in spring 2015, WestBend will include 95,000 sq. ft. of retail and dining, and 183,000 sq. ft. of office space.
Scheduled to open in early 2015, The Fresh Market, a 21,000-sq.-ft. European-style market, will be located on the southeast corner of the WestBend project on University Drive, directly across from University Park Village. Demolition of a parking garage is now complete and construction will soon begin on the new 81,150-sq.-ft. building featuring 23,500 sq. ft. of retail, including The Fresh Market and a trailside cafe, and 57,650 sq. ft. of Class A office space above. A new traffic light will be added as part of the expansion plans to improve traffic flow in and out of the project and connect WestBend directly with University Park Village.
“We look forward to the completion of our 278,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use project, which will add a walkable urban experience to the already successful University District and its existing conventional retail,” said Trademark CEO Terry Montesi. “We will have several restaurants on the Trinity Trail with large trailside patios and additional shaded public spaces representing a significant evolution of the District.”
Parkside Town Commons
Raleigh, N.C.
Developer: Kite Realty Group
Major tenants: Target, Harris Teeter, Petco, Frank Entertainment, Golf Galaxy, Field & Stream
Construction status: Under construction
Parkside Town Commons is a mixed-use center anchored by Frank Theatres, Target, Harris Teeter, Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy. The center is adjacent to the Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the U.S. and home to more than 140 companies employing more than 49,000.
Raleigh is the fastest-growing city in the U.S. and has a number of accolades based on quality of life, business environment and the housing market. Businessweek.com named Raleigh as the No. 1 Best City in America, Forbes has ranked it No. 1 Best Place for Business and Careers, and Builder Magazine named it the Healthiest of the 100 Largest U.S. Housing Markets.
“This development offers retailers the opportunity for a physical presence at a high-impact, high-quality center in an outstanding location near the heart of the Research Triangle Park. In turn, the community will benefit from a centrally located, first-class shopping destination with a unique roster of high-quality tenants,” said Tom McGowan, president and COO, Kite Realty Group.
“Parkside leasing activity remains strong, with the project significantly pre-leased,” added McGowan. “We will continue working to create a dynamic tenant mix in order to provide a first-class shopping destination.”
Nokomis Village Shopping Center
Nokomis, Sarasota County, Fla.
Developer: The Sembler Co.
Key tenant: Publix
Construction status: Completed
The Nokomis Village Shopping Center property is a redevelopment of a 143,697-sq.-ft., Publix-anchored center, with other tenants including Anthony’s ladies apparel, Village Pharmacy, Ophelia’s Pasta restaurant and Saltwater Café.
During the construction, improvements were made to the entire property — from landscaping to building façade upgrades. The Sembler Co. took over the third-party management of the Nokomis Village Shopping Center about four years ago and, on behalf of the owner at the time, negotiated the deal to tear down the existing Publix and redevelop the entire center, which is more than 30 years old. In the fall of 2011, Sembler then purchased the center from that ownership entity and began the redevelopment plans for the property. The store serves some of southern Sarasota County, Nokomis and the Venice Beach community.
“From the moment we took over the management of Nokomis, we could see the potential for its redevelopment,” said Steve Althoff, senior VP leasing and property management, Sembler. “It’s a high-traffic center but just needed a facelift — such is the life cycle of retail.”
“We will feature Nokomis at RECon as an excellent example of how we can apply our combined expertise in management, leasing and development to enhance the value of an