West Cliff Plaza Ledbetter Drive and Hampton Road Dallas, TX Case Studies Home   G. Lamont Blackstone and The Retail Initiative, Inc. (TRI) joined forces with a local non-profit community development corporation to reposition an obsolete and bankrupt mall as a supermarket-anchored shopping center. Traditionally underserved by retail, the surrounding community is moderate income (2003 per capita income of $15,000) and multi-ethnic (48% African-American and 29% Hispanic ). TRI assisted in negotiating a 25-year ground lease with Albertsons, one of the largest supermarket chains in the nation, for a 62,000 square foot store. The project also included 31,000 square feet of inline and outparcel retail space. After construction delays and cost overruns occurred, TRI worked closely with J.P. Morgan Chase, the construction loan lender, to move the project forward and complete the redevelopment. Completed in 2001, West Cliff Plaza provided over 300 new full-time jobs to the community, and retail spending is now being retained in the immediate neighborhood. In addition to Albertsons, national retailers include Blockbuster, Starbucks, Subway and Washington Mutual. The project’s success catalyzed additional retail and residential development in the surrounding south Oak Cliff community. Developed by TRI in association with a local non-profit organization.