CUZ Cousins Properties Inc

Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) announced today the opening of 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, one of the U.S Census Bureau�s top 10 fastest growing counties for 2007. Construction of phase I of the project, which includes 64,000 square feet of office space, began in January 2007. At opening, the retail space in phase I is 70 percent committed. Today�s ribbon cutting at The Avenue Forsyth will be followed by this weekend�s Grand Opening Celebration, which will include family-friendly activities and specials at a number of Avenue retailers. The following list contains the retailers with signed leases at The Avenue Forsyth (with those open at Grand Opening in bold): Aeropostale, AMC Avenue Forsyth 12, American Eagle, Ann Taylor Loft, Aria Salon Spa Shoppe, Avalon Nails, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, Chico�s, The Chocolaterie Luxury Chocolates, Christopher & Banks, Circuit City, CJ Banks, Claire�s, Coldwater Creek, Dreamy Gelato, DSW, Fuzziwig�s Candy Factory, GameStop, GNC, Ichiban Steak & Sushi, J. Jill, Jos. A. Bank, Lane Bryant, Lenscrafters, Limited Too, Little Azio, MovieStop, Natural Body Spa & Shop, New York & Company, Origins, Rack Room Shoes, Relax the Back, Select Comfort, Straw Dog, Stride Rite, Sunglass Hut, Surftown USA, Sweet & Sassy, Tailgaters Alley, Talbots, Ted�s Montana Grill, The Outside World, Victoria�s Secret and White House/Black Market. Outparcel users include Chick-fil-A, Colonial Bank, CVS, Jim & Nick�s BBQ, The Firkin & Crown, Red Robin and SunTrust. 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 in suburban Nashville and one in Viera, Fla. For more information about The Avenue, please visit www.shoptheavenue.com Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, Cousins Properties Incorporated is a leading diversified real estate company with extensive experience in development, acquisition, financing, management and leasing. Based in Atlanta, the Company actively invests in office, multi-family, retail, industrial and land development projects. Since its founding, Cousins has developed 20 million square feet of office space, 20 million square feet of retail space, more than 4,000 multi-family units and more than 60 single-family neighborhoods. The Company is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust (REIT) and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CUZ. For more, please visit 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 (including the overall condition of the residential market), 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, 2007. 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.