To meet the growing retail needs of the Ames community, plans for expansion and redevelopment of North Grand Mall are nearing completion and will be released to the public.

L&H Real Estate Group, owner of North Grand Mall since 1998, said they believe the timing is right for change.

“The financial climate and interest rates provide a desirable market, department stores are ready, and more national retailers are finding new respect for middle-markets such as Ames,” said Carol O’Grady, vice president of marketing and corporate communications for L&H.

Discussions about the expansion and redevelopment of the mall began in 2000 and grew amidst proposals for new shopping centers in both Ames and Des Moines to fulfill the growing consumer market, O’Grady said.

“The main goal is to meet the need in the community for more and better merchandise offerings,” she said.

The renovation includes the expansion and remodeling of existing department stores, redesigned landscaping, an enhanced customer service area, improved parking lot and the addition of a new fashion department store and a national retailer.

L&H hopes construction will begin late next year or in early 2004. The process will last 12 to 18 months and will occur mostly during the mall’s non-operating hours, said Kurt Carlson, manager of North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave.

“As of now, we’ve adjusted these building plans 10 or 15 times,” he said. “We’re getting close to having a template.”

O’Grady said North Grand Mall’s redevelopment Web site will keep Ames residents informed on the progress of construction.

The site’s “Visit the Future” page www.lhreg.com/ng_redev/ main.htm offers information on the redevelopment and provides customers a forum for posting feedback on the progress, she said.

“As soon as our plans are finalized, we will post them on the Web site and display them in the mall’s common area, but the planning process does not stop there,” O’Grady said. “New ideas are created, subtle changes and enhancements are added, and the overall plan is refined. We will be looking to several sectors for input— our retailers, the city, our shoppers and our business partners.

Carlson agreed. “The site is another way to share information about our redevelopment and to get comments from our customers,” he said.

Michelle Barth, assistant manager for Gadzooks in North Grand Mall, said she believes the renovation will be beneficial.

“I think its a good thing because people won’t go down to Des Moines as much, and it will help stores already in the mall as expansion brings in more customers,” she said.