Two new malls in the Cincinnati suburb of Deerfield, Ohio, are currently under development. Columbia, Md.-based The Rouse Co. is co-developing Cincinnati Center, an 850,000 sq. ft. center with Indianapolis-based Duke-Weeks Realty Corp. Nordstrom has already committed to develop a department store at the center.

The other retail project, Deerfield Towne Center, is a multi-anchor 360,000 sq. ft. retail center under development by Duke-Weeks. The 45-acre site on which the center is to be built is located adjacent to the Rouse/Duke-Weeks development. The two projects combined will add approximately 1.3 million sq. ft of retail space to the suburb. Site work for both retail centers is expected to begin in spring 2001.

"The positioning of Nordstrom in this area provides the impetus to create a classic upscale shopping destination," says Larry Myrvold, senior vice president of retail for Duke-Weeks. "Nordstrom's support of the project immediately elevates the prominence of Deerfield Towne Center."