Demolition of several old military warehouse buildings at Manana recently began to make way for a future retail center to be anchored by Babies "R" Us, PETCO, Checker Auto Supply and Longs Drug store.

The project called Pearl City Gateway is designed to be 150,000 square feet with space for about 25 tenants, including some stand-alone buildings covering 13.5 acres near the Pearl City Wal-Mart.

California-based Robertson Properties Group is developing the property, which is a piece of a former Navy warehouse complex covering 124 acres that the city purchased in 1994 for $109 million with the thought to develop the area for city and commercial uses.

Construction of Pearl City Gateway is scheduled for spring 2009.