By Norman Bell

In a business where location is everything -- even in a tough market -- developers of Palmetto Gardens Plaza say they have a winner on their hands. DZD Holdings and Macken Realty kicked off their marketing push for Palmetto Gardens Plaza Tuesday with a presentation to the real estate community at the Fairmont Turnberry Resort in Aventura.

The 108,000-square-foot shopping center project is located along the busy Palmetto Expressway at 3791 NW 167th Street in Miami Gardens. Mayor Shirley Gibson and a cadre of city officials were on hand offering full support for the project that promises to bring much needed commercial services to the under-served city that just marked its fifth birthday.

4U Lighting and Design is the largest tenant signed so far. Vercon Construction and Behr Font & Partners handled the redesign of the site, which had previously been approved as a mixed-use development including residential. Work is scheduled to begin in the third quarter with completion expected within 18 months.