CUZ Cousins Properties Inc

Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) announced today a list of retailers that have signed leases at The Avenue Forsyth, a 527,000-square-foot mixed-use development at the intersection of Georgia 400 and Georgia 141 (Peachtree Parkway) in Forsyth County, part of the rapidly growing northern suburbs of Atlanta. The 70-acre site sits at the intersection of two of northern Atlanta�s most traveled connector highways. Construction of phase I of the project, which will include 64,000 square feet of office space, began in January 2007 and completion is expected in spring 2008. In addition, Cousins owns 39 adjacent acres for future expansion of the project. The retailers with signed leases at The Avenue Forsyth include AMC Theatres, Ann Taylor Loft, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, Chico�s, Chicago Pizza, Circuit City, Claire�s, Coldwater Creek, DSW, Ichiban Steak & Sushi, J. Jill, Jos A. Bank, Kayson�s Grille, Little Azio, Sunglass Hut, Talbot�s, Victoria�s Secret and White House/Black Market. In addition to these signed leases, there are additional retailer commitments that bring the phase I of the project to 57 percent committed overall. �It has been more than 15 years since Cousins set into motion the development of North Point and we believe we have found the next great retail site along the Georgia 400 corridor,� said Joel Murphy, president of Cousins� Retail Division. �The early commitment from this impressive list of merchants and fine local restaurateurs clearly demonstrates that this Avenue, like others before it, will become a vibrant community center for this dynamic and affluent trade area.� The Avenue Forsyth is Cousins� fifth Atlanta-area Avenue-concept center and the ninth the Company has developed since 1998. The Avenue concept, introduced by Cousins Properties in 1998, has been extremely well received by consumers and retailers alike. In contrast to a mall, these open-air, pedestrian friendly centers appeal to the discriminating and often time-constrained shopper looking for premier national retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants in a convenient setting. Cousins Properties has opened or has under construction five Avenues in the Atlanta area, one in suburban Memphis, one is suburban Nashville, one in suburban Los Angeles and one in Viera, Fla. For more information about The Avenue, please visit www.theavenuealist.com. Cousins Properties Incorporated, headquartered in Atlanta, has extensive experience in the real estate industry including the development, acquisition, financing, management and leasing of properties. The property types that Cousins actively invests in include office, multi-family, retail, industrial and land development projects. The Company�s portfolio consists of interests in 7.6 million square feet of office space, 5.3 million square feet of retail space, 2.0 million square feet of industrial space, 671 for-sale units in two under-development multi-family projects, 24 residential communities under development, over 9,100 acres of strategically located land tracts, and significant land holdings for development of single-family residential communities. The Company also provides leasing and management services to third-party investors; its client-services portfolio comprises 14.3 million square feet of office and retail space. The Company is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust (REIT) that has been public since 1962 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol �CUZ.� For more information on the Company, please visit its Web site at www.cousinsproperties.com. Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, general and local economic conditions, local real estate conditions, the activity of others developing competitive projects, the risks associated with development projects (such as delay, cost overruns and leasing/sales risk of new properties), the cyclical nature of the real estate industry, the financial condition of existing tenants, interest rates, the Company�s ability to obtain favorable financing or zoning, environmental matters, the effects of terrorism, the ability of the Company to close properties under contract and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company�s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. The words �believes�, �expects�, �anticipates�, �estimates� and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in any forward-looking statement are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and speak as of the date of such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.