Home Depot started breaking ground recently on a new store in northeast Bismarck.

According to records in the Burleigh County Recorder's office, Home Depot closed on a tract of land in north Bismarck on Friday. The land is located across from Menards on the east side of State Street.

On Wednesday, there was heavy equipment parked at the site, as well as evidence that crews have been clearing land. But according to an employee in the Bismarck inspections department, Home Depot is not expected to get the necessary building permits until Monday.

Home Depot had previously submitted plans for a 102,700-square-foot building center and a 25,700-square-foot garden center.

Calls to a Home Depot spokeswoman's phone and pager were not returned Wednesday.

Bill Wocken, Bismarck city administrator, said the new construction is good news.

"Anytime we can grow our marketplace, we're happy," Wocken said.

Wocken doesn't know what the cost of the building will be, but he said that the new construction is positive because it will add to the tax base.

According to Home Depot's Web site, the company is the largest home improvement retailer, with more than 1,500 stores in North America. The nearest Home Depot is in Fargo.

Home Depot might not be the only major home improvement store going up in Bismarck in the next year.

The Bismarck Planning Commission is holding a public hearing Sept. 22 to approve plats for a 520,000-square-foot shopping center to be built between Century Avenue and Interstate 94 near the Tyler Parkway exit that will include a Lowe's Home Improvement and a Kohl's department store.

The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. in the City-County building at 221 N. Fifth St.

It also appears that Menards could be planning an expansion. The planning commission also will be considering a request from Menards at the Sept. 22 meeting for zoning changes and plat approval for a 18.4-acre tract of land northwest of the store.

A manager at Menards would not comment on the nature of the request.