English and Continental Development Co. of London and Boulder, CO is the buyer. Tom Rohde and Chuck Siegel, both of NAI/Rohde, Ottmers & Siegel of San Antonio brokered the land sale and will be handling the center's development and leasing. Siegel tells GlobeSt.com that the land was acquired from an undisclosed retailer who backed off long-time plans to develop a freestanding retail building on the site.

The parcel adjoins an existing Wal-Mart Supercenter that Siegel characterizes as the town's main retail draw. English and Continental Development's project site is located at the intersection of two main border highways leading to Corpus Christi, Brownsville, San Benito and Weslaco.

Building near a Super Wal-Mart is a strategy that English and Continental also is employing in San Antonio. The Harlingen project, Siegel confirms, is the developer's first foray into the Rio Grande Valley.

Ground will break in the fall, with occupancy planned for January 2003. The developers will bid out construction work and use a division of Rohde Development Co. to design the center.

Siegel says he is in the final stages of negotiations with a dollar store chain and a national women's apparel chain. Lease rates at comparable newly constructed centers range from $10 per sf to $20 per sf, depending on store size and other factors. Siegel expects the shopping center will attract of mixture of non-traditional tenants filling needs not available at a Wal-Mart Supercenter.