DFW Retail Construction Hits Highest Point in Three Years

DALLAS-The North Texas love affair with shops of all types has retail developers pushing out more space this year than they have since 2001. Lenders, though, have kept their check on spec so the 5.9 million sf now rising is significantly pre-leased.

Retail appetites from consumers and developers have CB Richard Ellis Inc.’s Dallas office again putting out a retail report, the first one in several years. Likewise, the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors has teamed with International Council of Shopping Centers for its first retail summit and bus tour of the northern tier where much of the space is coming on line.

The Dallas/Fort Worth market has 192.1 million sf in 3,280 shopping centers. Occupancy is 91.4%, according to CBRE’s second-quarter analysis.