Niles looks like it’s getting a new dollar store.

On Wednesday, the Niles Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan for the construction of a Dollar Tree store at 1202 S. 11th Street, the location of the now defunct Heart City Motors.

Scott Bowman, an architect for the firm submitting the site plan, said Dollar Tree stores typically employee a mixture of approximately 25 full and part time employees.

To move the project forward, Dollar Tree will have to apply for a building permit with the city’s building department.

Bowman said the company wouldn’t likely break ground until early spring.

“We’re probably looking at late March, early April getting started,” he said.

According to the site plan, Dollar Tree plans to demolish a portion of the existing structure on the side facing Ninth Street and reuse the majority of the building.

The building is located across the street from McDonald’s and next to El Amigo Pepe.

Landscaping will be improved to include 80 shrubs and five canopy trees.

“This is the area I’m probably the most excited about,” said Juan Ganum, community development director.

As for parking, Bowman said they plan to reuse the majority of the existing parking lot as-is with an added seal coat.

The property currently has two entrances to the parking lot directly off of South 11th Street. The northernmost entrance will be closed, leaving one entrance.

“This is actually enhancing the site,” Ganum said.

A sidewalk will be erected on the east side of the building.

The site engineer is Daniel Yerks, of Wightman and Associates, of Benton Harbor.

The architectural firm is Clark, Geer Latham and Associates, of Mobile, Alabama.