The project, on the site of a tomato farm, will be the first to be completed within the city's proposed Downtown and will include 250,000 sf of shops and restaurant space, up to 125,000 sf of office space and up to 450 residential units. The retail space will have more than 50 tenants, including Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Brighton, Chico's, Coldwater Creek, Jos A Banks, Limited Too, and New York & Co. Construction of the retail and office components will be completed first, with an anticipated opening in fall 2008.

Brown Hill Development partner Jeffrey Brown tells GlobeSt.com that two-thirds of the retail space has been committed, either through signed leases or letters of intent. Marketing efforts for the office space have just started. "The development is situated on three main arteries, Lyons Road, Wiles Road and a third road we will build on the south side of the site so there will be excellent access," Brown says.

Under city regulations, developers are seeking LEED certification for the project, which will be designed by Dorsky Hodgson Parrish Yue. Office leasing will be handled by CB Richard Ellis and the implementation of green building design strategies is being provided by LEED consulting firm GreenTime, LLC. Among green elements of the project are the recycling of construction debris and the inclusion of a smart irrigation system that waters plants only when necessary.