Published in the September 5, 2003 issue of The Business Journal

By Andrew Tellijohn, Staff Reporter, The Business Journal

North American Properties will break ground next week on a 190,000-square-foot big-box retail project in Oak Park Heights.

The city gave final approval on Aug. 26.

Kohl's will anchor the $20 million project.  It also will include T.J. Maxx, Dress Barn, Pier 1 Imports and Michael's Arts & Crafts, said Steve Johnson, director of development and leasing at the Eden Prairie office of Cincinnati-based North American Properties.

Johnson said there are two restaurant pads and two retail sites it expects to have leased or sold in the next two to three months.

The Oak Park Heights site, which will be located on the southeast corner of Highway 36 and Norell Avenue North, is adjacent to a retail district on the edge of Stillwater that includes a Wal-Mart, a Menards and several other national retailers.  It will draw a lot of its shoppers from western Wisconsin because Minnesota doesn't have a sales tax on clothing, Johnson said.

Kohl's is expected to open in August 2004.