The Park Place mixed-used project at 119th Street and Nall Avenue is bucking a slow development economy and building its second phase, buoyed by a major office tenant.

The $25 million expansion includes a 67,280-square-foot office and retail building, and a 415-space parking garage. The primary office tenant will be RPS Financial Group, a subsidiary of Northwest Mutual. RPS will occupy the top floor of the three-story building and part of the second level. Retail is planned for the first floor.

Melanie Mann, co-developer of Park Place with Jeff Alpert, said the Leawood project, which opened in March 2008, has attracted a strong roster of tenants because of its location and unique design. The architecture is intended to evoke the feeling of a Main Street environment, with shops on the first floor and offices above.

Its first phase included a 156-room Aloft hotel; 110,000 square feet of retail, 90,000 square feet of office space, and a 600-space garage.

Park Place is expanding at a time when other retail-based projects in the south Johnson County market are struggling to find tenants or even get under way, according to a recent survey by Lane4 Property Group.

“It’s a place where people enjoy coming to shop and dine,” Mann said. “We wanted it to be an eclectic community and that’s what emerged. It’s allowed us to move onto our second phase.”

RPS Financial is relocating from Corporate Woods to the new Park Place building at 11501 Ash St. It is expected to be ready for occupancy a year from now. The new facility will accommodate its wealth management, employee benefits and Northwestern Mutual operations.

“This will be a world-class workplace that our clients and financial advisors deserve,” R. Philip Sarnecki, RPS managing partner, said in a statement.

RPS was represented by Bob Cattanach of Waterford Property Co. in brokering the deal; Park Place was represented by Bryan Johnson and Rollie Fors of Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group.

While the office, hotel and retail components of Park Place have proceeded, the development has not escaped the woes besetting the residential condominium market. Park Place ultimately calls for a four-story condo building with 26 units, but construction has been delayed.

“We’re ready to go, but we won’t build it until the market gets straightened out,” Mann said.