DENVER—In 2012, NewMark Merrill purchased a 50% vacant retail center for $8.5 million. Five years and $90 million of additional investment later, the new Village at the Peaks is the retail centerpiece of the community with Whole Foods, Sam's Club and a Regal Cinemas movie theater among the anchor tenants at the 500,000-square-foot complex. To accomplish this success, NewMark Merrill forged partnerships with the city and the community to create a retail center curated to the tastes of Northern Colorado residents. For a closer look at this case study, we sat down with Allen Ginsborg , NewMark Merrill Mountain States managing director and principal for an exclusive interview. Here, he gives us an inside look at the making of Village at the Peaks. GlobeSt.com: Why was this mall a good candidate for redevelopment? Allen Ginsborg: GlobeSt.com: What are some of the characteristics that you look for in a redevelopment opportunity like this? Ginsborg: Another key to a successful redevelopment is engaging the community early, personally and often. I held more than two dozen community meetings with a couple of thousand stakeholders to develop and refine what people in the community said they wanted. Then I tested our vision using community-wide polling and opinion surveys to be sure we were on track and to educate and build public consensus about the market and tenant demand. I always want the majority of the community to be my partner in our projects. I can't fight the battle to attract retailers and deal with the rising costs, and have the community fighting me along the way too. That's a losing hand. GlobeSt.com: What was your vision for the Longmont project? Ginsborg: GlobeSt.com: Tenant mix is becoming increasingly important in retail. How important was the tenant mix to this project? Ginsborg: GlobeSt.com: You partnered with the city on this project. Why was that partnership important to the success of the project? Ginsborg: GlobeSt.com: Give me an update on the project today, and how much value you have created post redevelopment? Ginsborg: GlobeSt.com: What is next for the project? What is your long-term business plan? Ginsborg:

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Navigating Post-Recession Retail Redevelopment

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