BFC Partners will develop Harbor Commons, a $230 million, 350,000-sq.-ft. outlet center in Staten Island, N.Y., near the St. George Ferry Terminal, a major New York City tourist attraction and commuter hub. The project will include approximately 100 designer stores, a 120,000-sq.-ft., 200-room hotel and a structured parking garage containing 1,250 spaces.
BFC Partners will enter into a 99-year lease with the city for the site and will also make annual monetary contributions to area wide maintenance. BFC also retained Casandra Properties and EWB Development as strategic consultants for the project, including positioning, leasing, marketing and management.
“Harbor Commons will be the first outlet center in New York City that offers the retail sector a singular and unique opportunity to expand their brand presence in the most vibrant retail market in the country,” said Donald Capoccia, managing principal and founder of BFC Partners, in a statement. “We are also proud to announce that local realtors, Casandra Properties, will be teaming up with EWB Development, a respected name in the outlet industry, as strategic consultants for the project.”
Construction on Harbor Commons will start in the winter of 2014, with completion scheduled for 2016. SHoP Architects designed the center, which will feature open corridors to the water, contemporary materials reflective of the industrial waterfront, a sweeping green roof, grand staircases, glass elevators and streamlined escalators that will help provide an easily navigated pedestrian experience.
Primestor Breaks Ground for 400,000 SF Shopping Center in California
Primestor Development broke ground for azalea shopping center, a 400,000-sq.-ft. shopping center in South Gate, Calif. Primestor plans to complete the development in December 2013.
S. L. Nusbaum Realty to Help Find a Site for Kroger Marketplace in Virginia
Kroger Mid-Atlantic appointed S. L. Nusbaum Realty Co. as its exclusive site selection representative for a new Kroger Marketplace concept store in the Greater Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Kroger Marketplace locations typically contain up to 124,000 sq. ft. and are located on sites of at least 14 acres.
Tommy Drew, John Litz and Jim Gresock will handle this assignment on behalf of S. L. Nusbaum. In an unrelated announcement, S.L. Nusbaum Realty hired Neal Sadler as a leasing associate in its shopping center division. In his new position, Sadler will be responsible for providing leasing services to shopping centers throughout the Hampton Roads, Va. region. Previously, he worked at Wheeler Real Estate Co.
Brixmor Completes New Leases
Party City signed a lease with Brixmor Property Group for a 15,500-sq.-ft. store at Five Points in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mike Watson represented Brixmor in-house.
OK Beauty signed a lease with Brixmor Property Group for a 15,959-sq.-ft. store at Albany Plaza in Albany, Ga. Connie Chung, of First United Realty, represented OK Beauty in the transaction. Alex Conner represented Brixmor in-house.
Pep Boys signed a lease with Brixmor for a 13,000-sq.-ft. store at Old Bridge Gateway in Old Bridge, N.J. David Gerstenhaber represented Brixmor in-house.
West Marine signed a 13,610 lease with Brixmor for a store at Naples Plaza in Naples, Fla. Dave Edwards, of Site Consulting Corp., represented West Marine in the transaction. Siobhan Pecora represented Brixmor in-house.
LA Fitness Plans Club in the Bronx
LA Fitness signed a lease with Simone Developments Cos. for a 43,000-sq.-ft. club at Metro Center Atrium in the Bronx. The club will be one of LA Fitness’ first in a non-suburban location. The chain plans to open the club in November 2013.
Other Notable News
Charter Realty & Development arranged three new leases totaling 11,501 sq. ft. of space at Lake Shore Plaza II shopping center in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y. AutoZone signed a 7,184-sq.-ft. lease at the property, Century 21 signed a 2,500-sq.-ft. lease and Verizon a 1,817-sq.-ft. lease.
Crossroads Cos. signed leases with Hilti and HSHS Liquors totaling 7,250 sq. ft. at Riverfront Plaza in Hackensack, N.J.
Brodeur Carvell Fine Apparel signed a 4,578-sq.-ft. lease and Rossi a 1,422-sq.-ft. lease at Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers, Fla. Both retailers will open their new locations in November.
Crossman & Co. opened an office in Atlanta and appointed senior vice president John Zielinski to lead it. Prior to joining Crossman & Co., Zielinski served as real estate manager with the Altanta division of Publix Super Markets Inc. The company also hired Sherri Mann as senior associate and James Burruss as research analyst.
SRS Real Estate Partners hired Ken Galvin as senior vice president in its Chicago office. Galvin has more than 24 years of experience in commercial real estate. He worked at SRS prior to joining Staubach Retail in 2000. Galvin’s clients include Darden Restaurants, Brinker, Starbucks, Carter’s, Shoe Carnival, Tuesday Morning, Buffalo Wild Wings, Justice, Yankee Candle and Citibank.
HFF hired James Koury as senior managing director in its Boston office. In his new position, Koury will help grow the firm’s national retail investment sales platform, with a focus on transactions in northeastern United States. He has more than 26 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Previously, he served as executive vice president and partner at CB Richard Ellis.