ALISO VIEJO, CA-Shea Properties has named former Irvine Co. leasing VP Steve Center as SVP of leasing, a role in which he will oversee leasing of the 6.7 million sf of commercial space planned at Legacy Park, the 820-acre project at the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Station. Center, a 16-year industry veteran, will have responsibility for space that will include office buildings, shops and restaurants at the Legacy Park project, which broke ground in October.

The developers describe Legacy Park as an urban village with retail and dining options, business centers, parks, schools, homes and 170 acres of open space including a network of trails and wetland preserves. It is a project of Tustin Legacy Community Partners LLC, a limited liability company formed by Shea Homes, Shea Properties, Centex Homes and the City of Tustin.

Plans call for the mixed-use development to include 2,105 homes, a new K-8 elementary school and a 40-acre high school. The new project is being designed to draw a customer base from not only the Tustin Legacy neighborhoods but also from the City of Tustin and surrounding communities, according to Colm Macken, president and CEO of Shea Properties.

Center served as regional VP of leasing in San Diego for the Irvine Co., where he spent three and a half years. Previously, he was with Legacy Partners Commercial, most recently as regional VP for San Diego and Orange counties. His background also includes experience as assistant VP at Mutual of New York and as a broker at Cushman & Wakefield.