Development

AUSTIN-Fired Up has struck a franchise deal with a major player in the United Arab Emirate. Four UAE eateries will be opened under the pact, which had been signed on the eve of today's Johnny Carino's Nile City riverboat opening in Cairo.

CHICAGO-Two city blocks north of the Ogilvie Transportation Center will be turned into a 200,000-sf retail market by a joint venture between commuter rail agency Metra and US Equities Realty, LLC.

SAN LEANDRO, CA-A new Century 16 Theater is open at the 40-year-old Bayfair Mall here, and mall owner Heitman Retail Properties of Chicago, says the $12 million project should do wonders for mall anchors Long's Drug and Macy's.

VANCOUVER, WA-After a two-month delay to adjust plans for a larger underground parking garage, work resumed this week in the 35-foot deep hole east of Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. Cranes and concrete will arrive next month.

MINNEAPOLIS-The financial services firm wants high-traffic locations near large retail developments. The sites need to be about 1.5 acres - large enough to accommodate 5,000-sf buildings.

LOS ANGELES-Developers have moved forward with construction of Wateridge Two, even as vacancy rates rise on the Westside.

SANTA ROSA, CA-Two office buildings on its Airport Corporate Center property have been completed and occupied and a third, manufacturing building is nearly complete. A fourth building will await better economic conditions.

RARITAN TWP., NJ-After a 145-year run at the old Flemington Fairgrounds, the Hunterdon County will apparently do one more encore before developers move in and construct a 550,000 sf shopping center.