by Nicki Campbell

Despite the heat and humidity, there were lots of people at this morning's Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Shops at Worthington Place.  Tom Carter, who is a Worthington resident and Worthington Place owner, spoke to the crowd and announced the first new tenant commitments -- Panera Bread, Johnson's Real Ice Cream and Swan Cleaners.  Talbots has started construction on their new location in the mall, which will make it the largest Talbot's in Ohio.

Tom Carter at Worthington Place groundbreaking

Corna Kokosing is the builder, Cassidy Turley is handling the leasing and M+A Architects is the project architect.  The plan is for the first phase of work to be completed by December, in time for the holiday shopping season.  Construction will continue until June of next year and will include new entrance designs, fireplaces and a general updating of the look of the mall.

Carter is president of Real Estate Development Advisors (www.redevelopmentadvisors.com).  He was previously at Steiner + Associates where he developed Easton Fashion District in Columbus.  His partner in the Shops at Worthington Place project is Bill Morris of Morris-Floyd Capital Partners.  Morris has 19 years of experience in commercial real estate and is responsible for the re-development of La Palmera in Corpus Christi.