The Desco Group opened the first phase of Belleville Crossing, a $90 million, 125-acre retail commercial center in Belleville, Ill. When completed, the project will contain approximately 600,000 sq. ft. of space. Phase I contains 415,000 sq. ft.
General Growth Properties, Inc. opened the Shops at Fallen Timbers, a one-million-sq.-ft. shopping and entertainment center in Maumee, Ohio.
Cousins Properties Inc. and Faison Enterprises opened Phase I of Avenue Murfreesboro, an 810,000-sq.-ft. open-air retail center in Nashville, Tenn. Phase I includes 660,000 square feet of space and was 78% leased at the time of the opening.
Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW) selected Ruby Simpson as president of its new Inland Empire chapter. Simpson works as senior advisor with Sperry Van Ness.
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and the Benchmark Group formed a 50/50 joint venture partnership to develop the Pavilion at Port Orange, a 550,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center in Port Orange, Fla. Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2008, with completion scheduled for the fall of 2009.
Vestar Development Co. held the grand opening for Lake Pleasant Towne Center, a 650,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in Peoria, Ariz.
Urban Space and Ralston Square, LLC will develop Ralston Square, a $60 million mixed-use project in downtown Indianapolis. The project will combine 55 condo units with 41,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.
Regency Centers promoted Barry Argalas to senior vice president of national acquisitions and dispositions. Previously, Argalas served as vice president of national acquisitions and dispositions.
Developers Diversified Realty formed a joint venture with Rice Commercial Group to develop a 74-acre mixed-use project in Toronto, Canada. When completed, the C$150 million project will contain approximately 700,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Construction is scheduled for the spring of 2009, with the opening expected to take place in the fall of 2011.
Forest City Enterprises, Inc. appointed Robert G. O'Brien as executive vice president and CFO, effective Feb. 1, 2008. O'Brien will replace current CFO Thomas G. Smith, who will retire around Apr. 1, 2008. He currently serves as executive vice president of strategy and investment management for the firm.
Flaherty & Collins Properties appointed Michael Davis as vice president of development and finance. Previously, Davis helped run the family-owned business Davis Homes.
GVA Advantis appointed Lucas Hewett as president for the Florida region. Previously, Hewett served as president of the northwest Florida region.
American Assets, Inc. completed the first two phases of the renovation of Solana Beach Towne Centre, a 252,000-sq.-ft. community center in Solana Beach, Calif. The company plans to start work on Phase III in the second quarter of 2008.
Shea Properties promoted Lee Pacheco to senior vice president. Pacheco has been with the firm since 1994.
Regency Centers promoted Erwin Bucy to senior vice president of investments in Southern California. Previously, Bucy served as vice president of investments.
Sudberry Properties, Inc. held the grand opening for the Village Walk at EastLake, a 162,000-sq.-ft. retail center in Chula Vista, Calif.
Terramar Retail Centers appointed Alexander M. Liftis as senior vice president of development. Previously, Liftis served as vice president of development with Caruso Affiliated.
Meuleman Mollerup LLP hired Anna E. Eberlin as an associate in its real estate law practice group. Eberlin has five years of experience in real estate management and investment.
Shea Properties appointed Kiril McKee to senior vice president of retail leasing. Prior to joining Shea Properties, McKee served as director of leasing for the West Coast with Federal Realty Investment Trust.
Regency Centers promoted Doug Shaffer to senior vice president of operations in the Pacific region. Previously, Shaffer served as vice president and regional officer with the firm.
Callison hired Randall Stone as director in its Dallas office. Stone has more than 22 years of experience in retail, mixed-use and hospitality projects. Previously, he served as vice president with RTKL Associates, Inc.
Retail Brokers, Inc. hired Tom Bruner as director of leasing. Bruner has 18 years of experience in commercial real estate.
Retail Brokers, Inc. hired Kevin Matthews as an investment sales associate. Matthews has more than five years of experience in commercial real estate.
Trachman Indevco, LLC broke ground on Citrus Crossing, a $75 million, 23-acre redevelopment project in Azusa, Calif. When completed, Citrus Crossing will include 175,000 sq. ft. of retail and 102 townhomes.
Centre Properties hired Brooke Yeager as leasing manager. In her new position, Yeager will be responsible for leasing three shopping centers in Indianapolis, marketing, market research and planning.
Regency Centers promoted Jeff Badstubner to regional officer for northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Previously, Badstubner served as a senior leasing agent.
Meuleman Mollerup LLP hired Weston B. Meyring as an associate in its commercial law group. Prior to joining Meuleman Mollerup, he served as a consultant and national account sales manager with PepsiCo, Inc.
Crossman & Company appointed Tanya Eberhardt as a research analyst for the Villages division. Eberhardt is currently pursuing a master's degree in real estate from the University of Florida.
Meuleman Mollerup LLP hired Jennifer M. Reinhardt as an associate in its construction law group. Prior to joining Meuleman Mollerup, Reinhardt served as a law clerk with the Idaho Supreme Court.
Tobin Dudley hired Steve Starr. Prior to joining Tobin Dudley, Starr worked as studio principal of store design with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting.