OliverMcMillan – Strong Tenant Interest at Two Luxury Retail Developments

Challenge
San Diego-based OliverMcMillan, founded in 1978, is a private commercial real estate development firm that acquires, designs, develops, manages and leases mixed-use and standalone real estate properties in major metropolitan growth markets across the United States and Canada. Two of its most prominent projects are the $1 billion The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in Atlanta and River Oaks District in Houston. Both are new upscale developments covering multiple city blocks. Buckhead Atlanta includes 300,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and cafes, more than 100,000 square feet of luxury office, and approximately 400,000 square feet of high-rise residential on six blocks. Similarly, River Oaks will have 252,000 square feet of luxury retail, fine dining, street-side cafes and entertainment, 92,000 square feet of office space, and 279 residential units. Arnall Golden Gregory is one of only two law firms that is handling all leasing for both projects.

Approach
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta include Hermes, Moncler, Christian Louboutin and Helmut Lang. AGG secured the business after executing two restaurant leases for OliverMcMillan three years ago. The following year AGG and OliverMcMillan continued discussions at the International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference in San Diego, which led to AGG doing significantly more work for OliverMcMillan. The scope of AGG’s work is wide and includes drawing up operational contracts, hammering out management issues and generally managing a significant amount of the leasing issues that come up with two enormous developments. AGG has grown its relationship with OliverMcMillan to serve other needs of the client, including litigation, trademark and office leasing.

Result
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta continues to draw new tenants and more customers, and has catalyzed additional development nearby. Likewise, the luxury multiuse River Oaks Districts is attracting high tenant interest and several retailers have opened to record numbers. When River Oaks opened in October 2015, it was 85 percent leased, with 95 of those tenants new to Houston.