U.S. Capital Holdings, LLC appointed Koniver Stern Group as co-leasing agent for the retail component of 321 North, a $350 million mixed-use project in Plantation, Fla. The project contains approximately 525,000 sq. ft. of retail.
Curzon Partners, a commercial real estate company based in China, joined GVA Worldwide. The firm will represent GVA Worldwide in eight cities across China, including Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, under the banner GVA Curzon Partners. GVA Curzon Partners will focus on value-added investment consulting and corporate work.
Regency Centers formalized a plan to incorporate sustainable elements into its development projects, existing properties and corporate operations. As part of its green building initiative, the company plans to LEED certify 20 percent of its 2008 development starts, 40 percent of its 2009 starts and 60 percent of its 2010 starts.
Sperry Van Ness will expand its U.S. market penetration with new offices in Chicago, New York, Denver, Seattle and Puget Sound, Wash. The firm will also launch an international expansion into Costa Rica and Panama. Sperry Van Ness appointed Jerry Anderson as president of its international division.
Development Opportunity Corp. and Economou Partners established DOC-Economou, a joint venture company that will specialize in the development and management of upscale mixed-use properties. The firm's products will include hotels, condominiums, retail, offices and event complexes.
San Francisco-based retail real estate firm Retail West launched an investment sales division. Joe Caputo, previously of Capital Pacific, will lead the new team.
Waterstone Retail Development appointed KeyPoint Partners as the exclusive leasing agent for Sugar River Plaza, a 116,826-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored strip center in Newport, N.H. Don Mace and Michael Branton will handle this assignment on behalf of KeyPoint Partners.
Urban Retail Properties Co. has been awarded the management, leasing, marketing and development contracts for four properties across the United States. These include Garden City Center, a 476,467-sq.-ft. mixed-use center in Rhode Island; 270 Center, a 232,717-sq.-ft. power center in Gaithersburg, Md.; Village Shops, a 170,270-sq.-ft. retail property in Salem, N.H.; and Tropical Shoppes, a 14,400-sq.-ft. center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Vista Equities Group and Vista Private Equity Group LLC acquired an 89-acre parcel in Katy, Texas, for the development of a medical, office and retail complex. Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2008. Dennis Johnston, of McDade Smith Gould Johnston & Mason, represented the buyers in the transaction.
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and Faison Enterprises, Inc. purchased 79 acres of land and started site work for the development of Settlers Ridge, a 600,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center in Robinson Township, Pa. CBL will maintain a 60 percent position in the joint venture, and Faison a 40 percent position. The partners plan to open the center in the summer 2009.
TCW Group, an international asset management firm, acquired a majority interest in Buchanan Street Partners, a national real estate investment manager and advisor. Buchanan Street will continue to operate autonomously.