• On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita struck Southeast Texas, damaging everything in her path including Central Mall in Port Arthur. The eye of the storm made landfall only 15 short miles southeast of the property with winds at 120 mph.
• Damages sustained from the storm were extensive and included seven (7) areas of roof collapse, several compromised exterior walls, entire skylights ripped out and flooding throughout the entire mall. Central Mall Port Arthur was closed until further notice.

Initiatives

• Assess and determine severity of initial damage to property. Communicate assessment and course of action with Jones Lang LaSalle and GG&A emergency contacts. Work with JLL & GG&A to contact, hire and supervise appropriate contractors for clean-up, remediation and repair work.
• Work with IPC to secure property and prevent unauthorized entrance of the property and tenant spaces.
• Work with JLL Human Resource Dept to contact/ locate all Jones Lang LaSalle property employees to determine status, immediate need and obtain current contact info for future updates/ correspondence.
  Contact each tenant with property status as soon as possible and communicate on a regular basis the status of mall and repair work needed to tenant space. Communicate projected possession date with each tenant so they can hire/ schedule necessary contractors to rebuild space and re-open as soon as possible. Ongoing and regular communication with JLL & GG&A of tenant correspondence, status and work done.
• Work in conjunction with JLL & GG&A to communicate mall status with media and public through press releases and other marketing avenues. Record and communicate all media coverage with JLL & GG&A. Work in conjunction with tenants to notify media and public of store re-openings. Coordinate grand re-opening event (if applicable) with tenants and local Chamber of Commerce.

Results (Repair work still in process)

• The mall general manager quickly assessed the damage and reported the status to Jones Lang LaSalle and GG&A to determine the necessary course of action needed. Within several days, contractors were hired and work had begun on the initial phases of the clean-up and repair process. Temporary offices were set-up in the parking lot for the management team, records and equipment. Successfully remediated and built-back 100% of all tenant spaces. Entering into the final phase of roof repair and replacement.
• IPC utilized their resources and shipped in additional security officers to have 24-hour patrol at the property. Access to tenant spaces was granted based on the Authorized Access List provided by each tenant (company personnel, insurance adjustor, contractor, etc) and each were given an access badge and monitored by IPC upon arrival.
• All JLL services employees were contacted to determine their status and obtain current contact info for future updates. Employees were encouraged to participate in a weekly conference call hosted by JLL Human Resource Department and other JLL management personnel to discuss mall status, any new developments and determine when services employees were needed back on the job. JLL Human Resource Dept spoke to each employee to determine if there were any additional immediate needs such as living assistance and transportation to property.
  Successful communication with tenants of initial damages and coordination of repair and build-back of spaces. Tenant storm notices were sent out providing updates such as mold remediation efforts and construction progress.
• Effectively communicated the mall’s progress and store openings with the media and public through interior and exterior sign package, mall website and on-going media coverage. The mall marketing manager recorded and communicated all media coverage with JLL & GG&A. Grand re-opening festivities will be planned in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the project’s completion and drive traffic and sales to mall tenants.
• The $20 million mall restoration is scheduled for completion by end of 2006. Leasing forecast to have 80% occupancy by October 2006 with the majority of specialty stores open by July (31 stores open as of May 1st) and those with roof collapse open before the 2006 holiday shopping season.