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Marq*E Name To Be Unchanged
Norm Rowland
The Memorial Sun

Two things you can count on as a result of the acquisition last week of the Marq*E Entertainment Center by Canyon Johnson Urban Funds and Fidelis Realty Partners is more family-oriented entertainment and better security, says Lynn Davis, co-owner of Fidelis.

Fidelis, a Houston real estate development and management company, is a full investment partner with Canyon Johnson in the venture, Davis says, and will have sole responsibility for management of the center.

“We really want to turn it back into a family-oriented venue for all ages to go to and have fun any day of the week”, Davis said.

There are no plans to change the name of the entertainment center, Davis said, but that could change later if it appears that using the name of Earvin “Magic” Johnson—the Johnson in Canyon Johnson—would add to the allure of the venue.

The 360,000 square foot Marq*E center is the first acquisition by Canyon Johnson, the nation’s largest real estate investment funds focused on urban revitalization throughout America, in the Houston area.

“We are proud to make the first of what we anticipate will be many investments in the Houston area”, said CJUF Managing Partner Bobby Turner. “Houston is exactly the type of densely populated, ethnically diverse market in which our fund invests. And the fact that Mayor White and (District A) City Council Member Toni Lawrence are committed to revitalization and growth gives us great confidence to invest here.”

“When I was in Houston for NBA All-Star game in February, Mayor White and city council members encouraged me to find some opportunities for investment”, Johnson said. “Well, it’s a month later and Canyon Johnson is here. We are believers in Houston as a place that is economically growing, healthy, entertaining and the place to be.”

Fidelis is involved in commercial real estate investment, development and services related to its assets.

The company was founded in 2003 by Davis and Alan Hassenflu and today has a portfolio of over three million square feet of income properties, almost 600 acres of developable land and approximately two million square feet of income properties under development or pre-development.

Fidelis owns properties in three cities and two states, with the bulk of its holdings being retail centers in the metropolitan Houston market. Among its Houston holdings is about 30 acres between Bunker Hill Road and Witte that formerly was owned by Daniel Industries, about which rumors have abounded.

Davis said plans for the property had not yet been developed.

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