The commitments are the first news about Summerlin Centre since early last year, when GGP announced that Nordstrom would open a 140,000-sf store and, two months later, that Crate & Barrel would open a 34,000-sf store. GGP now says all four stores are expected to open on Oct. 16, 2009 along with nearly 95 other retailers, 10 restaurants and an undisclosed amount of commercial office space.

"Leasing activity is in full swing," says John Bucksbaum, chief executive of GGP, which acquired the project by way of its 2004 acquisition of the Rouse Co., which owns the Howard Hughes Corp., the master developer of Summerlin.

Summerlin Centre will rise northeast of the intersection of the 215 Beltway and Sahara Avenue. As of last year, the plan for Summerlin Centre included 1.4 million sf of retail shopping and dining, 5,500 housing units, a 250-room four-star hotel and at least one million sf of office space. Additional residential development has been slated to occur on 300 adjoining acres that already includes the new Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

Development of Summerlin began in 1990 and is scheduled for completion in 2020. Currently, more than 92,000 people live in 37,000 homes and apartments in Summerlin, which includes 19 schools, nine golf courses, 100 parks and a 120-mile trail system.