REAL ESTATE

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said it has appointed Bob Taylor as senior VP in the New York office.

This is Taylor’s second stint with SRS.  In his first, he directed Hard Rock Café’s national expansion and relocation efforts. Taylor will be focused on tenant and landlord representation for the New York team, and returns to SRS from Cassidy Turley, The Staubach Co., and Staubach Retail.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced a strategic agreement with MobileBits Holdings Corp., provider of SAMY, a mobile marketing and engagement platform, to acquire DDR's proprietary location-based mobile marketing solution ValuText.

MobileBits will integrate the ValuText product into the SAMY solution and will make the solution available to DDR tenants and shopping centers. SAMY is an innovative 'mobile mall' application that allows shoppers to gain instant access to the latest discounts, coupons and loyalty cards, via their mobile devices.

Slidell, La. -- Dillard’s will anchor the fashion-oriented Phase II of Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, La., according to co-developers CBL & Associates Properties, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Stirling Properties out of Covington, La. Phase I of the project is currently under construction with approximately 330,000 sq. ft. anchored by Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michael’s, T.J. Maxx, and Best Buy. Phase II will include up to 320,000 sq. ft. of additional retail space.

Minneapolis -- Cassidy Turley announced the promotion of five employees at its Minneapolis office.
 
Brian Woolsey has been promoted to managing director; he previously served as senior VP. Jennifer Pelant has been promoted to associate VP from associate; Mark Richardson has been promoted to assistant chief operating engineer, from lead operating engineer; Angela Samargia has been promoted to senior property manager, from property manager; and Robert Franks was promoted to business manager from senior office manager.
 

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. has promoted John Paul (J.P.) Guzzardo to the position of VP development, charging him with leading the Build to Suit department focused on ground-up development projects in the U.S.

Previously, Guzzardo held positions as real estate manager and director of real estate for Sembler.

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Two new merchants will soon be joining the retail lineup at Spotsylvania Towne Centre in Fredericksburg, Va., according to Cafaro Co., based in Youngstown, Ohio.

Soma Intimates and Londons will open this summer in the outdoor shopping district of the complex, The Village at Towne Centre. Londons will open first, occupying just about 2,000 sq. ft. next to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. By late August, Soma will open its 2,500-sq.-ft. store next to White House | Black Market.

Cheshire, Conn. -- WS Development, based in Chestnut Hill, Mass., announced plans to build an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Cheshire, Conn., called The Outlets at Cheshire.

The center will also include public open space, walkways, recreation amenities, a residential component and full service grocer.  

Seattle -- The national vacancy rate for shopping centers dropped slightly from 10.09% to 10.06% in the first quarter of 2013, according to a study by global real estate services company Colliers International. In addition, shopping centers absorbed nearly 4.5 million sq. ft. in the first quarter.