GROUND BREAKS FOR $17.5 MILLION SHOPPING CENTER

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. — Investec Real Estate Companies is developing Gene Autry Plaza, a 60,000-square-foot retail center in Palm Springs. Located at the corner of Ramon and Gene Autry Trail, the $17.5 million project featuring Smart & Final, Staples, 11,500 square feet of retail space and a bronze statue of Gene Autry. The plaza is part of a 60-acre retail development, which includes Wal-Mart Supercenter, Office Depot, PetSmart and Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse. Pasadena, Calif.-based KKE Architects is providing architectural services for the project. Cathedral City, Calif.-based GHA Companies is serving as general contractor. Completion is slated for April 2009.