Paris Rutherford, president of the Dallas-based developmentgroup, tells GlobeSt.com that site work will get under way inJanuary 2009, with Icon Midtown slated to come on line two yearslater. In a press release, he says the goal is to create the city's"first family-friendly, mixed-use walking district." Icon Midtownwill have about 600 feet of frontage along Interstate 635's accessroad.

"The location and timing of this development sets the stage forthe entire region and it will serve as a catalyst forforward-thinking redevelopment opportunities in the area," ChrisBuehler, vice chairman of the city's planning commission, says in apress release.

Additional development details will be laid out in a follow-uparticle. However in the press release, the development breakdown is525,000 sf of upscale boutique shops, theater and restaurants;50,000-sf food district, including a cooking school with TV studio,Italian grocery and boutique food shops; 715,000-sf office tower,pledged to be LEED certified; 500 residential units and a boutiquehotel. Rutherford says preleasing is pushing the 40% mark tojump-start the development on time.