Ridge Hill Ownership Breaks Ground on Phase I of Redevelopment

In a big boost for the City of Yonkers, the owners of Ridge Hill held a groundbreaking this week for the launch of a major redevelopment plan.

“It’s good to see a company like North American Properties that has the ability to run shopping centers with the success they’ve had in this changing retail market,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “I’m so excited about what they’ve proposed to do here at Ridge Hill. Thank you for investing in Yonkers, to have your commitment is big for our City.”

During the milestone occasion, North American Properties unveiled new renderings showcasing additional placemaking elements they are adding to the central greenspace, including a covered performance stage and 18’ X 11’ LED screen, both of which received unanimous approval at this week’s Planning Board Meeting.

Joint venture partners North American Properties (NAP), Nuveen Real Estate, and Taconic Partners acquired Ridge Hill in May 2022 and have since worked on improving its software, implementing new daily processes such as pressure washing, upgrading the landscaping, resolving operational issues, rebranding the property, and rolling out its first consistent calendar of events.

Now, construction begins on this multi-phased, value-add project designed to transform Ridge Hill into a more cohesive, human-centric mixed-use destination. Work on tap for Phase I includes expanding the public realm and reimagining the streetscape, modernizing the merchandising mix and overall design aesthetic, and elevating the guest experience through resort-inspired services and community-driven programming. 

Last month, Ridge Hill ownership also gained unanimous approval from the Yonkers Planning Board to move forward on plans for demolishing a portion of the former Lord & Taylor department store building, vacant since 2021, and reconfiguring it at the ground level to serve as an extension of the central greenspace, located directly across the street. To accomplish this, architectural master planner Beyer Blinder Belle envisions removing a section of the storefront along with a portion of the second floor to create an open-air “paseo” surrounded by activated retail, dining, and entertainment tenants. Construction is expected to begin on this component shortly after the new public realm is delivered later this fall.