The Marketplace, a Whole Foods-anchored neighborhood retail development, has received unanimous approval from the Redlands City Council, allowing the project to advance toward building permits and construction. The center is being designed by KTGY Architects for Regency Centers and is planned on an 8.18-acre vacant site at the northeast corner of Lugonia Avenue and Tennessee Street.
The project is envisioned as a 71,400-square-foot neighborhood retail center that will convert a long-underutilized parcel into a new community-serving hub. Positioned in the heart of one of North Redlands’ fastest-growing residential areas, the center is intended to serve both existing households and new housing that is planned to the north and east of the site.
With City Council approvals now in place, the development team can move from the entitlement phase toward permitting and eventual ground-up construction. The decision affirms municipal support for repurposing the vacant site into an active retail destination anchored by Whole Foods Market.
Ray Kayacan, vice president of investments at Regency Centers, described the process as highly collaborative. He noted that working with KTGY and Whole Foods Market on The Marketplace has been a rewarding experience and emphasized that the planning effort was shaped around Redlands’ rapid growth. According to Kayacan, the team focused on ensuring that the project aligns with the community’s trajectory and needs.
Kayacan also highlighted that the unanimous City Council vote reflects the alignment built between the developer and the city early in the process. He suggested that the outcome demonstrates how effectively the full team executed against a shared vision for the site and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Marketplace is expected to function as a neighborhood anchor once completed, providing a new retail option for current residents while accommodating demand generated by future housing nearby. By activating a previously underutilized property, the project is positioned to play a role in shaping the next phase of growth in North Redlands’ residential corridors.
