Kathy Richter of Richfield Investments told GlobeSt.com that amassive retail center will be constructed on part of the site, withan opening being eyed for 2001. "I don't like the term 'mall,'" shesays. "The exact size is yet to be determined," says Richter,adding that other projects ticketed for the site are still inplanning stages as well. "It will definitely be a multi-use sitewhen it is done." The rest of the site will see the rise of "ahotel or an office building, or more likely both," she says.

Richfield last year had purchased the West8 site--about 100acres--from Baker Hughes for an estimated $50 million. The propertyfronts along the east side of Beltway 8 all the way from Richmondto Westheimer.

Grubb & Ellis has been hired to lease the existing West8office building as well as the adjacent Richfield-owned 40,000-sfMeadowglen Building at 10011 Meadowglen. The two buildingsrepresent some of west Houston's largest chunks of vacantspace.