Weingarten's investor relations director Brook Wootton says the team has started to look for a tenant to fill the Houston property, located at the corner of FM 1960 and Veterans Memorial Drive near North Oaks Shopping Center. "The space has been vacant for only about six weeks now. The former tenant was a well-known national retailer, which had been at the location for several years," Wootton says.

Wootten tells GlobeSt.com that Weingarten is receiving "significant interest" in the space. "There is very limited space available in the area for big-box retailers so this has increased interest," she explains, adding renovation will depend on which tenant--or tenants--take the property.

Other recent acquisitions are the recently completed 435,000-sf Whitehall Commons Shopping Center in Charlotte, NC; 96,000-sf Chatham Crossing Shopping Center in Chapel Hill, NC; 62,000-sf Commons at Dexter Lake Phase II Center in Memphis; and 212,000-sf Uintah Gardens Shopping Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Wootton says the four properties fit well into Weingarten's acquisitions strategy, which focuses on properties in high-growth areas including Northern California, North Carolina and Colorado. "The acquisition of Uintah Gardens is an excellent example of the type of properties we're seeking to add to our growth portfolio," she says. "We consider Colorado to be among the most attractive growth markets in the nation, with an expanding population base, well-educated consumers and strong enthusiasm from businesses and local residents."

Also bought in fourth quarter 2005 were the 13-building Tampa East Industrial Portfolio in Tampa; 571,000-sf Southpoint I and II in Memphis; 175,000-sf Isom Business Park in San Antonio; and 106,000-sf 1625 Diplomat Business Park in Carrollton, TX.

On the sales front, Weingartern sold about 417,000 sf of retail assets. The "sold" properties are West Junction and Porterwood shopping centers, both in the Houston area; Southaven Commons Shopping Center in Southaven, MS; Broadway Plaza in Little Rock; and Southgate Shopping Center in Shreveport, LA; and DFW Port America in Grapevine, TX.

Wootton says Weingarten had increased its dispositions program in 2005 to better position the portfolio for long-term growth and to help recycle capital to cut down on the need for additional equity. "We expect our dispositions will increase in 2006," she adds.