Northpark Mall owner, CBL, announces Louisiana project

(From CBL & Associates)

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CBL) and Stirling Properties announced today a joint venture to develop Ambassador Town Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. The approximately 58-acre site is located at the corner of Ambassador Caffery Parkway and Kaliste Saloom Road. The retail center will be built in one phase and will be approximately 425,000 square feet with major retailers including Costco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Field & Stream, Marshalls, HomeGoods,Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Chuy’s, Panera Bread and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. The majority of the retailers committed to the project are either first-time locations within Lafayette or Louisiana, or both. Construction is set to begin this month, with a projected opening of March 2016.

“Stirling Properties is excited about our partnership with CBL to develop Ambassador Town Center and believes that this joint venture brings the best possible team together to build this project,” said Stirling Properties’ Senior Vice President of Development Townsend Underhill. “We know this site to be an excellent location for a retail development in this market and we are happy to continue our long and successful development history in the city of Lafayette.”

"Ambassador Town Center is well-located and has attracted a best-in-class retail line-up even before construction has commenced,” said Michael Lebovitz, CBL’s Executive Vice President – Development and Administration. “We are pleased to partner with Stirling Properties on this project and are looking forward to announcing additional retailers as the development progresses.”

Ambassador Town Center is expected to create approximately 2,200 construction jobs, 1,000 permanent jobs and generate nearly $9 million annually in sales taxes for the city of Lafayette.

“This project is a sign of Lafayette’s strong economy and our willingness to work with the private sector for needed infrastructure in our community,” stated Joey Durel, Lafayette City-Parish President. “Retailers like those that have committed will be a regional draw for Lafayette, and the public infrastructure that will be built to provide a route parallel to Ambassador Caffery is necessary for one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Louisiana."

Public infrastructure improvements are being funded through a payment in lieu of tax arrangement (PILOT), which includes a new connection between Frem Boustany Road and Kaliste Saloom Road and multiple improvements to the existing road system. Under the arrangement, The Industrial Development Board for Lafayette Parish has agreed to allocate a portion of the property taxes that will be created by the development of this project to build the public infrastructure.