Hot Property: Ridgedale Center expansion

Type: Retail

Size: 230,000 square feet

Developers: General Growth Properties, Nordstrom Inc.

Architects: DLR Group, Callison

Details: Site and building plans for the second part of the ambitious, three-phase redevelopment of Ridgedale Center into an upscale fashion mall were approved by the Minnetonka City Council this month.

The first phase, now under construction, included the building of an 80,000-square-foot addition to the Macy's store on the north side of mall.

The second phase, approved unanimously at the council's Feb. 10 meeting, will see the construction of a new, 142,000-square-foot Nordstrom department store on the site of what is now a Macy's Men's and Home store, as well as a two-story, 87,765-square-foot addition to the mall itself, providing a connection to the Nordstrom anchor.

Plans for the two-story Nordstrom show exterior entrances on three sides of the building plus a new pedestrian bridge that would span over existing loading docks and delivery areas.

Also under the second phase, the parking lots next to Nordstrom would be reconstructed with landscaping and stormwater improvements and a connection to a future bike and pedestrian trail along Ridgedale Drive.

The third phase, whose timing has yet to be determined, envisions three new free-standing restaurants on the northwest side of the mall.