Yaromir Steiner said he felt like a proud father Thursday as he stood near the public square of his company’s $350 million real estate development in Liberty Township.

Nurturing just about anything–A house, plant, toddler, a romantic relationship—requires a deft touch. The same is true of the fragile independent stores that shopping center owners and managers are increasingly seeking to incubate.

With a diverse economy, educated and skilled workforce, natural resources and vibrant urban centers, Ohio remains a hotbed for real estate development, according to Mario San Marco, president of Cincinnati-based Eagle Realty Group.

For a large number of retail and mixed-use projects around the country—and for the communities they serve—the public-private partnership has been a game-changer.

For retail and mixed-use developers (not to mention civic and community leaders) great public spaces are almost always the showpiece: the smiling shoppers and families you see depicted on the website or brochure aren’t paying at a register or strolling through the parking lot—they are sitting on benches, playing in fountains, or taking a relaxing walk along a tree-lined path.

Community and consumer strength on a local level is critical not only for sustaining local business growth, but for fueling national and global economies.

“Butler County and Liberty Twp. officials Thursday signed the final multi-million dollar development agreement with private company Steiner + Associates to construct a mega shopping, office and residential community center.”

If you’re a parent to a young girl, chances are you know American Girl is opening at Easton Town Center this weekend.

Thousands of doll fans are expected to flock to Easton Town Center over the weekend for the grand opening of the new American Girl store.

Yesterday’s “soft” opening of Ohio’s first American Girl store was supposed to be a practice run for the staff and a chance for media to get a look before Saturday’s grand opening.