Multi Development set to start construction in April
Gdańsk based Multi Development Poland last week (date 22.01.2007) marked an important step by obtaining the building permit for Forum Koszalin, a shopping centre located in the southern edge of the city of Koszalin, in the north of Poland, near the Baltic Sea. The direct catchment is about 450,000 people. During the summer over a million tourists visit the Baltic Sea region.
It will be the biggest retail and leisure center in the whole region, focusing on Koszalin and its wide region and the coast. It is a joint-investment of Multi Development Poland Sp. z o.o. and Meinl European Land Group. The concept is from T+T Design and construction design from RKW Architektura i Urbanistyka Polska Sp. z o.o.
Forum Koszalin (55,000 sqm) is located in the southern edge of Koszalin, on the main road nr 11 which connects Koszalin to Poznań. Access to the local motorway and public transport network is excellent. It is a covered shopping centre with 2 shopping levels offering 55,000 sqm of shops, restaurants and a multiplex cinema, including Hypermarket, Do it Yourself and Consumer Electronics, and 1600 parking spaces. Landscaping and public realm will be of the highest quality. Trees, seating and lighting are included in the design. The tower, relating to the lighthouses of the Baltic Coast nearby, will make a landmark of the project.
Mr. Miroslaw Mikietynski, Mayor of the City of Koszalin, said: ‘‘The issuing of the building permit is a very important event in the trade history of Koszalin. Public opinion research, conducted by me at the beginning of previous term of office, showed that residents have been waiting for a long time for such an investment. The public is ready to go shopping in a new major shopping centre with new brands”.
Aleksander Buwelski, Commercial Manager Multi Development Poland maintains that the scheme will provide a ‘’new lease of life for this part of the city while having a positive effect as a whole on Koszalin as shopping magnet. As European leaders in retail schemes, Multi Development has the understanding, know-how and pure determination to work with City Council partners to drive the development and revitalize Koszalin’s retail offer. The scheme will provide a major new addition of shopping space into the city attracting new shoppers, new businesses and many new retailers - we are satisfied that there will be excellent demand from new retailers.’’
It is anticipated construction will commence in April 2007, with the scheme opening to the public in 2008
Profile Multi Development
Multi Development Poland is part of Multi Corporation, a group of companies carrying out various disciplines throughout Europe in property development (Multi Development), investment (Multi Investment), asset management (Multi Asset Management) and mall management (Multi Mall Management). With a Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund as its new financial partner, MULTI has strengthened its position to become an investing developer and move forward on its path to further growth. MULTI’s strategy is and remains focused on developing projects in European countries where significant growth is expected. Across Europe, MULTI ’s inner-city projects, shopping centres and business parks appeal to peoples’ imagination. The ‘Design & Development’ formula strongly focuses on design quality and MULTI has its own design group, T + T Design, for urban development and architectural concepts. MULTI’s projects are internationally recognized for their original and innovative nature, quality of architectural character and profound sensitivity to the blending of urban design. Our developments regularly act as the engine for regenerating a city or region. By respecting local culture and style we develop projects with which people can easily identify. Multi Development’s activities in 18 countries in Europe are conducted from offices in the Netherlands (head-office), Belgium, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
Multi Development has established its prominent position in Europe with award winning shopping schemes like Centrum Chodov in Prague, Czech Republic, Schlossle Galerie in Pforzheim, Germany, Almada Forum in Lisbon, Portugal, Beursplein in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and many others.
Profile Meinl
Meinl European Land Group is a real estate holding company which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange and the only one in Europe concentrating primarily on retail property investments in CEE countries and Turkey.
In Poland the group established a new investment company Manhattan Real Estates Management Sp. z o.o. – which manages the retail portfolio of Meinl European Land in Poland and the Baltic countries. The company manages Warsaw’s shopping centers Reduta and Targówek, Plejada in Bytom, Galeria Copernicus in Toruń, 7 shopping centers bought from Echo Investment, supermarkets in Œrem and Płock, Azur Gallery in Riga (Latvia). Manhattan Real Estates Management Sp. z o.o. plans to launch projects in Lublin, Gdańsk, Radom, as well as the extension of standing investments and developing the projects in other areas of Poland.