beginning of four phases.

The company expects to have up to 71 retailers on the 100-acre site, which should be finished by spring 2010, says Larry Evinger, FVP of retail for the firm. "We'll have about 56 retailers in the next phase, and another 10-15 after that," he says. A Rue 21 has also opened at the property, and a Justice for Girls is under construction, he says. "That's all that's open now, though we have some additional leases that are signed that we will announce soon," he tells GlobeSt.com. "We're working on more anchors, we do expect to bring some more in soon." He wouldn't detail who's being wooed, but says they will "be complementary to what we will have in the center."

Evinger says the property is perfect for the local market. "It's a growing area of northwest Indiana that's seen a lot of housing growth. There's a strong customer base and strong incomes, and it seems to us like it's a place that's going to grow and prosper," he says. Evinger pointed out the popularity of the city, including companies looking to move into the Eastport Center (Valparaiso Industrial Park), which is on the southeast side of Valparaiso and just south of US Highway 30. Several companies have moved to this location, including ME Simpson Co., the United Way of Porter County, Follett Books, J&N Enterprises and Machine Tool Specialists, with the Indiana Vocational Technical College also planning to locate to the park.