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Editor's Note: As the New Year approaches, Eagan Patch will review the Top 10 most significant stories of 2012, in terms of total pageviews and impact to the community. Disagree with our assessment, or have other stories you think should've made the Top 10? Please post your feedback or thoughts in the comment stream below.

#1: East Coast Developer Constructing Upscale Outlet Mall in Eagan

There were plenty of significant news stories in Eagan this year—including dozens of topics that didn't make our Top 10 list. All of which made choosing "the biggest" story of the year especially difficult.

While many of the issues we've reported here have had some impact on the community, only one has the potential to drastically change Eagan's economic landscape. That's why our top story of 2012 is the 440,000-square-foot outlet mall that will soon be under construction in Eagan's Cedar Grove neighborhood.

The $100 million mall, developed by Paragon Outlet Partners, LLC., will likely open for business in 2014, and will have roughly 100 upscale outlet shops. Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th brand will anchor the complex, which is expected to create 400 construction jobs and 1,600 to 2,000 permanent retail jobs.

The mall is expected to be a large regional draw, and siphon traffic down from the Mall of America into Eagan. Eagan officials also expect the development will add as much as $84 million to the taxable value of the property.

Click here to read more about the Cedar Grove outlet mall.

Eagan Patch will continue our countdown of the biggest stories of the year tomorrow. Check out the other articles that have already made it into Eagan Patch's Top 10 of 2012:

• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Suburban Homelessness Rising in Dakota County
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Day-Care Provider Charged After Infant Dies Under Her Care
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Lockheed Martin Shopping Center Plans Hit Unexpected Obstacle
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Death Threat Issued to Eagan City Council
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: All Three of Eagan's Sitting Legislators Overturned in November Election
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Eagan Teens Charged in Connection to Armed Robbery
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Hockey Coach, EHS Grad Both Killed in Car Accident
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Eagan Coach Kurt Virgin Charged with Swindling School District
• Top 10 Stories of 2012: Nicholas David Takes Third on NBC's "The Voice"