Even though its reported store sales average $1,200 per sf, BalHarbour Shops officials are closely monitoring the construction andleasing progress of Rouse Co.'s $200 million, 850,000-sf Village ofMerrick Park at LeJeune Road and San Lorenzo Avenue in CoralGables, FL, 16 miles southwest of Bal Harbour. The Rouse project isscheduled to open in September 2002.

The reason for Bal Harbour Shops' close scrutiny of its tenants'plans and of the Coral Gables center is that Rouse has announcedNeiman-Marcus and Nordstrom have been signed as tenants. Village ofMerrick Park will have 90 specialty stores, 110,000 sf of class-Aoffice, 120 apartments and 3,390 parking spaces.

Bal Harbour Shops officials are aware the Rouse project not onlyhas the location of exclusive Coral Gables, but is accessible fromthe Metrorail to attract downtown shoppers, tourists and suburbanresidents. Officials at Bal Harbour Shops and the Rouse Co.couldn't be reached for comment.