Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. to Commence Construction on Ambassador Town Center in Lafayette, Louisiana
Development over 90% Leased Prior to Construction Start
Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CBL) 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 Wholesale, 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 is well leased with an outstanding retail line-up,” 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 with this project, providing a route parallel to Ambassador Caffery, is necessary for one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Louisiana. Companies make decisions on where to locate based on long-term projections. This decision says that they have confidence in the future of our area.”
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 significant portion of the property taxes that will be created by the development of this project, for a period of up to 12 years, to build the public infrastructure.
For leasing information, please contact: Ryan Pecot, 337.572.0246 or rpecot@stirlingprop.com, or Rodney Gordon, 423.553.8704 or rodney_gordon@cblproperties.com.
