Mark Thompson, formerly director of research for the Rouse Co.,who is now with General Growth Companies (General Growth closed onits acquisition of Rouse earlier this month.), used one project hiscompany is developing as an example of lifestyle centers'evolution. The Shops at La Cantera, in San Antonio, will not onlyhave a total of 1.3 million sf when it opens next September, butDillard's, Foley's, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom department storesas anchors.

"I don't think there's an all-encompassing term that's going todefine all of the variations," said Jon Meyer, a partner atColumbus, OH-based lifestyle development firm Stanbery Development.In contrast to Chicago-based General Growth's projects, the threelifestyle centers Stanbery has opened are all under 200,000 sf.

Even Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, the largest NorthAmerican mall owner, with about 300 centers, is building open-airprojects, parts of which resemble lifestyle centers. ThomasSchneider, the company's EVP of development, pointed out that 38lifestyles are expected to open this year, and 48 more are plannedfor next year, though only a handful of new malls will come onlineduring that time.