Houston Premium Outlets will have 120 stores when it opens insecond quarter 2008. A spokeswoman for Chelsea Property Group tellsGlobeSt.com that leasing activity is brisk for the project, goingup near Texas 290 between Mason Road and Fairfield Drive. Theproject's construction budget isn't available.

"We've been very well-received by the merchant community andoutlet sector," the spokeswoman says. She wouldn't disclose anytenants' names nor speculate if it will be fully leased by theopening. Chelsea's other three Texas outlet centers are AllenPremium Outlets, north of Dallas, Round Rock Premium Outlets in theAustin area and Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets just north of theUS-Mexican border.

The Houston Premium Outlets are just east of the 100-acreFairfield Town Centre, a development by Chelsea's parent, theIndianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. The 800,000-sfFairfield Town Centre is scheduled to open in late 2008 or early2009. It has yet to break ground.