Stirling Properties Celebrates Grand Opening of Full-Service Walgreens Drug Store on New Orleans Westbank
Earlier today Stirling Properties celebrated the opening of the new full-service Walgreens drugstore in Terrytown on the Westbank of New Orleans. The celebration was commemorated with a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet, Walgreens Representative Bill Hagoort and Stirling Properties Vice President of Development, Peter Aamodt. The Walgreens is located at the intersection of Terry Parkway and Carol Sue Avenue on the site of the former A&P Grocery/Eckerd Drug anchored shopping center.
“This project represents a cooperative effort between Stirling Properties and Jefferson Parish to bring back a distressed commercial property to prominence once again as a viable retail corner that will serve the people of Terrytown”, said Peter Aamodt, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties.
The larger 17,384 square foot store has a drive thru window and full service pharmacy and will serve as a catalyst for future development to help revitalize an aging retail corridor. Stirling provided pre-development services, including lease negotiation, permitting, financing, design, as well as construction and project management.
As a preferred developer for the Walgreens Company in the Gulf South, Stirling Properties has had a long-standing relationship with the retailer. Last year Stirling completed a full renovation of the former Ed Brauner American Legion Post #307 to a 13,000 square-foot Walgreens Marquee store. Another approved Walgreens site, currently in the early stages of development, is at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Power Boulevard in Metairie, La.
For more information, contact Peter Aamodt, Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties, at paamodt@stirlingprop.com or by calling (504) 523-4481.
JCH Development and Stirling Properties Celebrate Groundbreaking of Magnolia Marketplace
Earlier today JCH Development, Stirling Properties, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, elected officials and other dignitaries commemorated the groundbreaking of Magnolia Marketplace, a 106,000 square-foot shopping center located in New Orleans, LA at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Toledano Street.
“We are proud to bring a dynamic new retail development to an underserved portion of Central City. This development will bring a formerly vacant and blighted piece of property in the City of New Orleans back to commerce”, stated Tara Hernandez, President of JCH Development.
“Magnolia Marketplace is further proof that New Orleans is on a retail roll,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “This project represents economic growth, jobs and opportunities and more retail options for an underserved community. Projects like this are why people are looking at New Orleans as a model for economic revival and urban renewal.”
Tenants scheduled to open in spring 2015 are Ross Dress For Less, T.J.Maxx, Michaels, PetSmart, Shoe Carnival, ULTA Beauty and Raising Cane’s. The project is 100% pre-leased. Previously announced was the 6,000 square foot initial phase of Magnolia Marketplace development located at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Fourth Street. Capital One Bank is currently open in that building. T-Mobile and Subway are slated to open in early 2014.
“This project embodies the strength of the New Orleans recovery and represents yet another important step in bringing retail back to the city,” stated Townsend Underhill, Senior Vice President of Development. “We are excited to be moving forward with Magnolia Marketplace, another project that signifies Stirling’s commitment to the City of New Orleans.”
Stirling’s recent projects in New Orleans include Mid-City Market, a 108,000 square-foot Winn-Dixie anchored shopping center located at North Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street, as well as the full renovation of the former American Legion building located on Magazine Street into a new 13,000 square foot Walgreens Marquee Store. Since 2011, Stirling Properties has invested over $120 million in the City New Orleans.
JCH Development’s most recent project is the conversion of the former Blue Plate manufacturing facility into the Blue Plate Artist Lofts, 72 residential lofts, on South Jefferson Davis Pkwy.
For more information, contact Townsend Underhill at tunderhill@stirlingprop.com or 985-898-2022, or for leasing information contact Rhonda Sharkawy at rsharkawy@stirlingprop.com or 504-523-4481.
New Orleans: A City of Possibility
A recent email from Michael Hecht, CEO of GNO Inc., highlighted another positive ranking for New Orleans. The city was named as one of the Top 20 “Cities of Possibility” in the World in Good magazine’s new “Good City Index”. To create this list of global “cities they are betting on,” the magazine looked at a combination of factors:
- “Hub for Progress”
- Civic Engagement
- Transportation
- “Local Vibes”
- Green Space
- Diversity
- Signature Movements
- Work/Life Balance
Driven by “a spirit of self-determination that has been a powerful driving force over the past eight years,” New Orleans shares the global recognition with:
- Mexico City
- Singapore
- Budapest
- Nairobi
- Seoul
- Johannesburg
- Istanbul
- Beirut
- Rio De Janeiro
- Buenos Aires
- Montreal
- Paris
- Perth
- Tel Aviv
- Santiago
- Kuala Lumpur
- Accra
- Atlanta
- Wellington (NZ)
Certainly, this is an impressive list of global cities to be ranked amongst. It is yet another testament to how far we have come. While much work remains, it is truly an exciting time to be a part of the NEW New Orleans.
Stirling Properties and JCH Development Complete Acquisition for Land to Develop Shopping Center in New Orleans
Stirling Properties and JCH Development are pleased to announce the closing of the land acquisition and development financing for Magnolia Marketplace, a 106,000 square-foot shopping center located in New Orleans, LA at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Toledano Street. First NBC Bank of New Orleans provided financing for the project.
“This project required a true partnership and we are excited to be a part of providing new jobs and economic opportunities to the residents, neighborhood, DBE businesses and the City of New Orleans. We are truly grateful for the support and collaboration on this project with the Mayor’s office, the City Council, and the Community, without which this project would not have been possible”, stated Townsend Underhill, Senior Vice President of Development for Stirling Properties.
“We are proud to bring a dynamic new retail development to an underserved portion of Central City. This development will bring a formerly vacant and blighted piece of property in the City of New Orleans back to commerce”, stated Tara Hernandez, President of JCH Development.
Stirling and JCH previously announced the 6,000 square foot initial phase of the Magnolia Marketplace development located at the intersection of South Claiborne Avenue and Fourth Street. Capital One Bank is currently open in that building. T-Mobile and a proposed national sandwich shop are slated to open in early 2014.
Tenants scheduled to open in spring 2015 are Ross Dress For Less, T.J.Maxx, Michaels, PetSmart, Shoe Carnival, ULTA Beauty and Raising Cane’s. The project is 100% pre-leased. The Developers expect to break ground on the project this coming January.
Stirling’s recent projects in New Orleans include Mid-City Market, a 108,000 square-foot Winn-Dixie anchored shopping center located at North Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street, as well as the full renovation of the former American Legion building located on Magazine Street into a new 13,000 square foot Walgreens Marquee Store. Since 2011, Stirling Properties has invested over $120 million in the City New Orleans.
JCH Development’s most recent project is the conversion of the former Blue Plate manufacturing facility into the Blue Plate Artist Lofts, 72 residential lofts, on South Jefferson Davis Pkwy.
For more information, contact Townsend Underhill at tunderhill@stirlingprop.com or 985-898-2022, or for leasing information contact Rhonda Sharkawy at rsharkawy@stirlingprop.comor 504-523-4481.
New Orleans Retail is on the Rise
Mark Twain once quipped “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme”. The Crescent City has been America’s boomtown before, but this time, something is different. Aided by tech, medical and digital media job growth, infrastructure improvements, rising tourism and political reform, the City has become a magnet for young educated professionals, and retailers have noticed.
Selected New Orleans Rankings
In recent history, aging infrastructure and crime crippled economic development. While Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were physically devastating to the region, they also uncovered social and political issues that needed to be rectified. Federal funds flowed to improve infrastructure. With that came oversight and political reform. The private sector rolled up their sleeves and made bold choices to invest in the city and its unique culture.
Together this created a higher demand than the current supply of Retail can absorb. As reported by The New Orleans Business Alliance, the city currently is losing $1.9 Billion in retail sales annually to neighboring parishes where traditional retail development has flourished. While some sections of the city still are recovering, the city’s core has experienced a great demand for development and re-development. “New Orleans was once considered a market that offered the worst to retailers. Today retailer activity and interest are at an all-time high,” stated Townsend Underhill, Senior Vice President at Stirling Properties.
Luxury retail is on the rise. The Shops at Canal Place, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, has experienced double digit sales growth in each of the last four years. Recent openings include J. Crew, Allen Edmonds, Michael Kors and Lululemon, with Tiffany and Company slated to open in November. “It is clear that New Orleans is experiencing nothing short of a Renaissance,” stated Brandon Berger of The Berger Company, owner of Canal Place. “Canal Place is well positioned as the only Luxury Mall between Houston and Atlanta. The higher end the item the retailer carries, the higher their sales volume.” In addition H&M will open a 32,000 square-foot French Quarter location in late October, their first in the United States outside of New York and Boston to offer home goods as well as soft goods.
The Outlet Collection at the Riverwalk – Rendering
The Outlet Collection at the Riverwalk, an upscale outlet center downtown near the French Quarter and Warehouse district, is scheduled to open in 2014. At 250,000 square feet, it will serve both locals and tourists and is billed as the only Outlet Center in a downtown setting in the U.S. Mark Bulmash, Vice President of Development at the Howard Hughes Corporation and Developer at Riverwalk added, “A few years ago, retailers would ask the question, ‘Why New Orleans?’ Today the question is, ‘Why aren’t we in New Orleans?’”
South Market District – Rendering
The Warehouse District in the CBD has transformed from blighted space into a vibrant neighborhood. The 40,000 square-foot Rouses Grocery opened in 2011 and was influential in making the area a true neighborhood. While condominium conversion is still underway, new construction mixed-use projects are also taking shape. The South Market District by the Domain Companies is under construction. Phase I will open late 2014 featuring 209 residential units and 22,000 square feet of Retail. Once complete, the project will include over 600 residential units and 170,000 square feet of retail located along the streetcar line and walkable from downtown Class A office buildings and the Superdome.
Mid-City Market
The 107,000 square foot Mid-City Market developed by Stirling Properties opened in July. Anchored by Winn Dixie, the site marks the entry into New Orleans for some notable restaurant chains like Panera Bread, Pei Wei, and Five Guys, and filled the void for much needed goods and services in the Mid-City neighborhood. Whole Foods will enter Mid-City as well with a store currently under construction on Broad Street that will mark their third location in the New Orleans metro.
Big box stores and Jr. Anchors that traditionally were kept out of the city for lack of developable land have found a limited opportunity to penetrate the market. Costco has completed its first Louisiana location with a 148,000 square foot store located near the population center. Wal-Mart has two Supercenters under construction in Gentilly and New Orleans East, 110,000 square feet and 180,000 square feet respectively. Magnolia Marketplace, scheduled to break ground in January 2014, will be the only true Power Center on the Eastbank of New Orleans and will offer Jr. Anchors the chance to gain access to the local market for the first time.
Development projects in virtually all areas of the city will allow retailers to penetrate a market previously thought impenetrable. Additional growth of mixed-use and street retail projects will offer more opportunities for the growing retail sector and will cater to the urban population and tourists. From luxury to discount, retail is hot in New Orleans and investors, lenders, developers and retailers are working hard to gain a presence.
This article was submitted to Southeast Real Estate Business magazine. An edited version appeared in the October 2013, Volume 14, Issue 7 print edition.
President’s Message: It’s a New Day in New Orleans!
Last week, we celebrated the Grand Opening of Mid-City Market in New Orleans. This Winn-Dixie anchored, urban shopping center is a milestone for Stirling Properties, as it’s our largest ground-up shopping center development in the City of New Orleans in our company’s 37 year history! It also represents one of the most significant retail developments in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, taking once blighted and vacant properties and returning them to commerce. This project creates over 500 new jobs and generates projected annual retail sales of over $61 Million.
Mid-City Market is the culmination of over 4 years of work and it was a challenge to put (and keep) all the pieces together. Few companies could take on a project of this complexity and succeed, but Stirling Properties was up for this challenge.
I want to commend our incredible team who worked on this project for a job well done! There were many points in time where it looked like the deal was dead, but our Stirling team worked diligently to complete it. It was through their hard work and perseverance that this inner-city project materialized.
I also want to commend Mayor Mitch Landrieu for his vision and leadership and Councilwoman Susan Guidry for her incredible support and drive to help make this a reality for Mid-City.
The Mid-City Market project is a result of over $40 Million in private investment and demonstrates our strong belief in the City of New Orleans and the civic and business leadership which has created an environment where businesses are confident to invest. A plethora of national and regional rankings paint a truly remarkable picture of New Orleans as THE city on the move, which is in stark contrast to previous decades.
This project, combined with our other projects completed to date, brings Stirling’s investments to over $120 Million in the City of New Orleans in just the last 3 years. All of us at Stirling Properties are confident in the direction of New Orleans, and Mid-City Market shows our continued commitment to the market. This project was the first for us in many ways and certainly will not be the last.
