Walgreens on Magazine – Update 12/6/12
Both interior and exterior work are progressing at a good pace this month. As the photo indicates the address precast stone was placed at the roofline just this week and the brick veneer on Magazine Street is nearly complete. This will be striking when the scaffolding is removed and when all the fine stucco detail work is complete in the next few weeks. Interior work is a combination of drywall installation, initial floor prep, electrical rough-in and final HVAC ductwork connections. The rear wall facing the parking lot is now covered with stucco and will have the finish coat in place this coming week. Things are coming together, stay tuned.
East Coast, West Coast…Emergence of the Third Coast
I wanted to share this recently published article, “The Rise of the Third Coast,” by Joel Kotkin, an internationally-recognized researcher and author on global, economic, political and social trends. In the piece, Kotkin describes the “Third Coast,” in large part driven by a “resurgent New Orleans” region, as “one of the major forces in twenty-first-century America.”
One quote in this article that is particularly striking to me is regarding the education system:
In a new report, government efficiency expert David Osborne describes New Orleans’s reforms as a “breakthrough.” The results, he says, are “spectacular: test scores, graduation rates, college-going rates, and public approval have more than doubled in five years.” He adds, “I believe this is the single most important experiment in American education today.”
Stirling Properties to Develop Full-Service Walgreens Drugstore in Gulfport, MS
Stirling Properties is pleased to announce the development of a new full-service Walgreens drugstore in Gulfport, Mississippi. The proposed Walgreens will be located at the intersection of Pass Road and Interstate 49 at the location of the former Gulfmart Shopping Center. Stirling Properties is providing development services, including lease negotiation, financing, and project management, to a third party owner of the property.
The 13,650 square-foot store will have a drive-thru window and full service pharmacy and will serve as a catalyst for future retail development of that corridor. The Gulfport store is slated to begin construction in January and open in the third quarter of 2013.
As a preferred developer for the Walgreens Company in the Gulf South, Stirling Properties has had a long standing relationship with the retailer. “Our team has been working successfully with Walgreens for the past 10 years and has delivered over 25 stores with many more in the pipeline”, said Peter Aamodt, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties. “Stirling is committed to finding new development opportunities for all of our retail clients in the Gulf South.”
For more information, contact Peter Aamodt, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties, at paamodt@stirlingprop.com or by calling (504) 523-4481.
Walgreens on Magazine – Update 11/2/12
The project is still moving along at a fast pace. Following the setting of the base cast stone, you can now see that the front façade brick veneer is going up quickly. The large windows facing Magazine street are taking shape and it will not be long before this phase is complete. The interior work is progressing with the installation of drywall, completion of framing, HVAC Ductwork, Electrical Rough-In and the concrete decking work at the second floor.
Sam’s Club Opening a Record-Breaking Success!
Yesterday morning I spoke briefly at the official ribbon cutting for the Sam’s Club in our River Chase development. The parish president, all of the area mayors, several council members and a crowd waiting for the doors to open were all gathered. It was great to see so many people excited about the store opening.
Monday night was the store’s soft opening and it was equally crowded. The Sam’s Club parking lot was full, plus there were about 300 extra cars parked on the street and in nearby lots. The manager, Chris Cuevas, told me that the soft opening was a record for Sam’s Club.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this store sets many more records.
Stirling Properties Announces Sam’s Club Opening at River Chase
Stirling Properties, the developer of River Chase, announces the opening of Sam’s Club at River Chase Shopping Center, the largest open-air retail center in St. Tammany Parish. Sam’s Club opened today, Tuesday, October 30. The grand opening ceremony, led by Covington Sam’s Club Manager Chris Cuevas, featured local dignitaries and special appearances as community officials cut the ribbon to signify the club’s opening.
The new 136,000 square foot Sam’s Club is the only one in western St. Tammany and has have a fuel station and pharmacy. “Sam’s Club is a fantastic addition to the River Chase development. This state-of-the-art Sam’s Club is a great compliment to the existing tenant mix at what has now become the largest open air retail center in Louisiana,” said Stirling Properties’ Vice President of Development Townsend Underhill. “Sam’s commitment to the project and to Western St. Tammany Parish has been tremendous over the past 2 years while this deal has been in the works and we are thrilled to see them cutting the ribbon and officially joining the River Chase community.”
For more information about River Chase, contact Townsend Underhill, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties, at tunderhill@stirlingprop.com or by phone at (985)-246-3785.
