TUSTIN, CA-With 22 new tenants signing leases at the District at Tustin Legacy, the space at the new shopping venue is 95% accounted for and the tenant count has climbed to more than 50 at the one-million-sf lifestyle and entertainment center that is being developed by a joint venture of Vestar Development Co. and the Kimco REIT. The project, which is being developed on 87 acres at the corner of Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2007.

The new tenants range from local restaurants like the four-location Bluewater Grill to national and regional chains like Michael's, Hot Topic, Zumiez and Sunglass Hut. Tenants that signed previously include Whole Foods, AMC Theatres, Target, Costco, Lowe's, Borders Books & Music and Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ.

The tenant count will rise to approximately 70 when the new development is completed, according to Jeffrey Axtell, project director for the District. He says that one of the factors attracting tenants is that 4,600 new housing units are being built around the District. The lifestyle portion of the District is situated in the middle of the project, with big box retailers such as Target or Whole Foods located on the perimeter.

The District at Tustin Legacy is part of the master planned community of Tustin Legacy, which is under construction on the portion of the former Marine Corp Air Station Tustin that closed in July 1999 and lies within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Tustin. The District at Tustin Legacy will feature fountains, a video wall, a performance stage, shaded walkways, landscaping, walkways and bike paths that will connect the shopping venue with other components of the Tustin Legacy project.

The development entity for the District at Tustin Legacy is Vestar/Kimco Tustin LP, a joint venture by Phoenix-based Vestar Development Co. and its financial partner, New Hyde Park, NY-based Kimco Developers. Vestar's other projects in Southern California include the one-million-sf Long Beach Towne Center, the 629,000-sf Pico Rivera Towne Center, the 830,000-sf Spectrum Towne Center in Chino and the 600,000-sf Cerritos Towne Center adjacent to the Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos.