Despite the slow recovery from the recession, shopping centre developer, Multi Corporation is confident about the future. RLI talks to Maarten de Mooy, Leasing Director Europe at Multi Corporation, about current projects in the company’s portfolio and in the pipeline for the future.
Multi Corporation is the leading commercial developer of inner-city retail space in Europe and is comprised of complementary companies in property development, investment, asset management and property management.
Multi invests in, develops and manages large-scale mixed-use shopping centres, and inner-city regeneration projects that are innovative, unique, sustainable and appealing. The company is active in 14 countries with its head office in the Netherlands. In 2010 the company opened eight projects in Europe, most notably in the Netherlands which accounted for 75 per cent of the completions. Maarten De Mooy, who heads the European Leasing team within Multi said: “2010 has been a pleasingly dynamic year following the slower period immediately after the financial crisis.
“In 2011 our most recent completions were celebrated with the opening of Forum Sintra in Portugal, a 41,000sqm GLA shopping centre on the north-west side of Lisbon, and Marmara Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, a 170,000sqm GLA scheme covering 140,000sqm GLA of retail, on the European side of Istanbul.
Projects already opened by the developer this year include Forum Sintra in Portugal and Marmara Forum in Turkey. In September Multi is scheduled to complete Kayseri Stadium in Turkey, Centrumplan Spijkenisse and Stadskwartier Nieuwegein Phase One, both in the Netherlands. October will see the opening of Konigsgalerie in Duisburg, Germany.
Projects under construction in 2011 include: Schloßstraße, Berlin; Arneken Galerie, Germany; Forum Gaziantep, Turkey and Eemcentrum, Amersfoort in the Netherlands. Construction continues in New Karolina, Ostrava, in the Czech Republic,
When asked what sets Multi apart from other developers, de Mooy said: “Close your eyes and imagine a square: In principal the facades of the buildings will create the atmosphere of the square.
“We focus on public space and creating warm and welcoming environments. That is what we call design and development.
“To be successful in our métier you always have your ears and eyes open, and only reveal news when appropriate. However I can say that we are particularly active in Central and Eastern Europe while close to home; The Netherlands and Germany continue to be strong markets for us.
For the full article, please see the June 2011 issue.
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