North American Properties begins redevelopment of Ridge Hill in Yonkers

Two years after purchasing Ridge Hill, North American Properties (NAP) and Nuveen Real Estate have unleashed the construction crews that will  begin remaking the 74-acre lifestyle center in Yonkers, N.Y. into a more “human-centric” destination.

NAP will demolish part of what was a Lord & Taylor store in its urbanistic downtown, reconfiguring it at ground level to make it part of the central greenspace that currently exists next to a Cheesecake Factory across the street.

An open-air paseo is planned for the first floor of the building that will be filled with retail, dining, and entertainment tenants. A fountain at the end of the block will be removed and substituted with a gathering space for visitors.

“It’s so good for me to see a company like North American Properties, which has had so much success in the changing retail market, take on this project,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano at an April 11 groundbreaking ceremony.

“Nine million people a year go to Yonkers Raceway, and the stores in the mall next to it are some of the top-producing stores in the country,” Spano said. “Whatever is built in this corridor scores.”

Also in the plans for the central greenspace are a covered performance stage and an 18’ x 11’ LED screen. The entire Phase 1 renovation will include a reimagining of the streetscape, a modernization of the merchandising mix, and the elevation of the guest experience with resort-inspired services and community-driven programming.

NAP and Nuveen acquired Ridge Hill in 2022 from its original developer, the Australian company QIC, for $220 million. Prior to the acquisition, the center had lost its Lord & Taylor and REI anchors, dropping its occupancy rate to 72%.

Key tenants at Ridge Hill--which is located between the New York Thruway and the Sprain Brook Parkway, include Apple, Whole Foods, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lowe’s, LA Fitness, Legoland, Sky Zone, and a host of food and beverage brands.