HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Bridge Street Town Centre has begun draining part of its large manmade lake to make room for a $20 million Belk department store.

Architectural renderings released by Bridge Street last fall show Belk - and three other large retail buildings - replacing most of the lake on the west side of the shopping center. A small finger of water will remain around Connor's Steak & Seafood; no changes are planned for the eastern lake facing Research Park Boulevard.

Shane Davis, the city's director of urban development, said draining the lake is the first of many steps before construction can get under way on Belk and the other new stores and restaurants that will surround it.

Tons of dirt will be needed to fill in the lake bed, he said, followed by electric, gas, water and sewer lines and other public infrastructure. Davis said that work could take up to five months.

"There's a lot to do," he said Wednesday, "but I know they're on a very, very fast track. They're anxious to get started."

Site plans shows most of Bridge Street's western lake being replaced by Belk and three new retail buildings. (Image courtesy Bridge Street Town Centre)

Meanwhile, the city hopes to solicit bids this month for a large underground culvert to carry rainwater from the west side of Bridge Street to a lake in Cummings Research Park. The city has committed $4 million toward infrastructure and drainage upgrades related to the new Belk.

"I'd think that in the next 30 to 60 days, we'll start seeing some site work with the city and possibly Bridge Street," said Davis.

Belk announced in September that it will build a two-story flagship department store at Bridge Street featuring an upgraded clothing line. Belk plans to leave Madison Square Mall when the new store opens in fall 2014.

Institutional Mall Investors, which purchased Bridge Street last year, has promised to surround Belk with a large sit-down restaurant new to the Huntsville market and 45,000 square feet of additional retail space.

More stores means more shoppers, so Bridge Street plans to add about 900 new parking spaces by turning part of the surface lot near Red Robin Gourmet Burgers into a two-story garage.

Davis said Bridge Street officials may hold a news conference in the coming weeks to provide more details on the Belk store and possibly reveal the identity of the new restaurant.

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