The expansion, which was first proposed two years ago, involvestwo parts. For one, 102,000 sf will be added to the existing,three-level building. The plan calls for some 50,000 sf to be addedto the existing Macy's department store, according to Rouseofficials, and 40,000 sf will be tacked onto the 150,000-sfBloomingdale's anchor store. About 12,000 sf of small tenant spacewill be added to the mall itself. Besides Macy's andBloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor is the third anchor tenant.

Actual construction on the additions is slated to start earlynext year. A related revamp of the mall itself is already underway, according to a Rouse spokesperson, including new elevators andnew flooring on the upper two levels. On the in-line tenant front,the Gap and Banana Republic are leaving the ranks, but Rouse hasalready signed American Eagle and Forever 21, a trendy apparelstore, to replace them in the high-volume property.

The second part of the expansion calls for construction of aseparate, 90,000-sf "lifestyle" center immediately adjacent to theexisting mall on the 100-acre site. The new center will consist offive separate buildings, with Crate and Barrel (36,000 sf) andMaggiano's Little Italy, a restaurant, signing on as initialtenants, according to the spokesperson. Actual construction isexpected to start late next year, and Rouse officials estimate thecost in the $30 million range.