Downtown at the Gardens Breaking Ground

PALM BEACH COUNTY-The groundbreaking for Downtown at the Gardens, an upscale retail project being developed in northern Palm Beach County, FL, is planned for May 19. Palm Beach Gardens-based Menin Development Cos. is developing the project, which will consist of a 336,000-sf building situated on about 35 acres just west of the Gardens Mall.The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2005. More than 1,500 workers and 100 to 200 construction companies are expected to be involved in the construction of the project, including tenant space construction. Menin recently received a $90.1-million loan from GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp. for the project’s construction.At its opening, Menin anticipates Downtown at the Gardens will create about 1,500 net new jobs, plus indirect jobs, and will generate about $200 million in sales, producing sales tax revenue of $12 million.A 16-screen Cobb Theatre and a Whole Foods Market, along with specialty retailers and nationally known restaurants, are slated to occupy the building. Other tenants that have committed to the building include Striphouse, Yardhouse, Sur La Table, Bookbinders, Max’s Grille, Big City Tavern, LuLu, Addison Gallery and Sloane’s Ice Cream.