Building Buzz: Projects in the News (July 13-17)

Building Buzz: Project Headlines This Week

From ambitious neighborhood redevelopments to cutting-edge research facilities, this week's Building Buzz highlights projects that are reshaping communities across the Upper Midwest.

In Minnesota, plans are moving forward for everything from a 140-acre mixed-use development at the former Les Bolstad Golf Course to a speculative industrial business center in South St. Paul and the transformation of a historic Red Wing School into new housing. Data centers remain a hot topic, too, as Mankato hits pause on future proposals while North Dakota advances plans for another AI-powered campus.

Beyond Minnesota, Wisconsin is making headlines with a new nuclear fusion research hub and a walkable residential development near a future Costco, while Iowa and South Dakota look ahead with major infrastructure investments in bridges and rural water systems.

You'll also find updates on future-ready industrial sites, aquatic centers, and large-scale housing developments that continue to shape the region's construction pipeline. Dive in to explore the latest projects, market movements, and opportunities making news this week.

MINNESOTA PROJECTS

Appleton's Common Council approved a development agreement providing up to $25.5-million for the Wilden development. The redevelopment of Thrivent's campus will include more than 2,000 housing units and commercial space, including a grocery store and hotel. The city's investment will be repaid through a 20-year tax increment financing (TIF) district, and supporters of the project say incentives are needed to spur affordable and multi-family housing. In related actions, the council also secured an option to purchase up to 3.5-acres from North Meadows for a future Appleton fire station for $1, and they increased the Community Development Department budget by $395,500 to acquire public right-of-way to improve the intersection of Ballard Road and Evergreen. (Finance & Commerce - July 16, 2026)

Bloomington Office Park Owner to Demolish Two Buildings for Future Development
(Demolition | Future Development)

Frauenshuh plans to demolish this office building at 7801 Metro Parkway in Bloomington (Photo by Frauenshuh)

Fraunshuh Inc. plans to demolish two office buildings in Bloomington's South Loop district to position for future development. The two three-story office buildings, both of which span about 42,600-square-feet and were built in 1969, are located at 7801 and 7851 Metro Parkway along Interstate 494. Demolition is slated to begin this summer. Frauenshuh said it is open to hearing from potential users who want to work with the company to redevelop the property or to other developers interested in buying the site. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal - July 14, 2026)

Concord Business Center planned in South St. Paul
(Environmental Cleanup | Industrial | Office | Soil Remediation | Warehouse)

Endeavor Development plans a speculative 68,000-square-foot Class A office and warehouse project in South St. Paul. The redevelopment will transform a former streetcar maintenance and truck repair site that requires environmental cleanup, including soil remediation, soil vapor protection, and geotechnical correction. The estimated $11-million project will rely on a combination of grants, developer equity, and traditional financing. Construction could begin in Q2 2027, with completion targeted by the end of 2027, pending city approvals. (Finance & Commerce - July 13, 2026)

Mankato City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers and other high-impact utility consumers. The pause gives city officials time to study potential impacts on water use, energy demand, land use, and local regulations before considering future projects. Residents largely supported the moratorium, while construction industry representatives argued data centers could generate significant tax revenue and construction jobs. Mankato has joined a growing list of Minnesota cities, including Inver Grove Heights, Eagan, Rosemount, and Carver, that have enacted or are considering similar data center moratoriums. (Finance & Commerce - July 14, 2026)

Rachel Development has unveiled plans to redevelop the 140-acre Les Bolstad Golf Course site in Falcon Heights. The proposal includes 1,458- to 1,800-plus housing units, featuring apartments, senior housing, townhomes, duplexes, and single-family homes. At full buildout, the unit count could include up to 1,085 apartments, 70 senior housing units, 384 townhomes, 52 duplexes, and 233 single-family houses, according to materials presented to city officials. Plans also call for retail, office, commercial space, infrastructure upgrades, and about 20% green space. The project faces a 12- to 18-month planning and environmental review process before construction can begin. Rachel Development is working with M/I Homes and PulteGroup on the project, located at 2275 Larpenteur Avenue West. (Finance & Commerce - July 16, 2026)

Red Wing seeks developer to turn school into housing
(Adaptive Reuse | Affordable Housing | Historic Preservation | Housing Development | Multi-Family)

Located at 601 Buchanan St. in Red Wing, the historic Jefferson School was built in 1916, with a classroom addition in 1948 and a gymnasium expansion in 1967. (Photo by City of Red Wing)

The Red Wing Port Authority is accepting redevelopment proposals for the historic 36,557-square-foot Jefferson School through September 10. The former school could be converted into up to 52 multi-family housing units, including potential new construction on the site. The RFP reveals that a previous proposal showed 16 residential units in the building, along with storage areas and parking. The building functioned as an elementary school until 2003. The property has been rezoned for multi-family housing, with environmental reviews completed and historic tax credit approval pending. Officials hope to select a developer by October and close on the property by November 30. The Port Authority is working with local consulting firm New History, which works with clients throughout the Upper Midwest to increase the use of historic buildings and sites. (Finance & Commerce - July 15, 2026)

Rendering of the proposed Northview Aquatics Center, which will include a new outdoor pool, a concessions stand and support spaces. (Rendering by JLG Architects)

South St. Paul City Council approved construction documents and pre-qualified subcontractors for the $10-million Northview Aquatic Center. Demolition and site work are expected to begin this fall, with major construction scheduled for 2027 and completion by Summer 2028. The project will replace the 1956 Northview Pool, which has $1.3-million in deferred maintenance and loses about 12,000 gallons of water on average due to leaks. The project is supported by $4.25-million in 2026 state bonding funds and is being managed by Kraus-Anderson with design by JLG Architects. In reference to the prequalification list of potential subcontractors, a Council Member noted that 10 electrical contractors meet the minimum requirements to bid on this project, and 15 are qualified to bid on demo, site clearing, earthwork, and site utilities. (Finance & Commerce - July 14, 2026)

IOWA PROJECTS

Iowa City unveils plans for $57M bridge replacement near university
(Bridges | BUILD Grants | Iowa Project | Demolition | Street & Sidewalk Improvements)

Officials from the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa City, and the University of Iowa are receiving federal assistance for a $57-million project to replace the two one-way Burlington Street bridges with a single span connecting downtown and the university, along with improvements to adjacent streets. In addition to replacing the bridges, the project includes separated bicycle facilities, grade-separated pedestrian crossings, intersection improvements designed to improve traffic flow, and the conversion of Grand Avenue, Byington Avenue, and Melrose Avenue to two-way traffic. Construction will also require the demolition of the University of Iowa's Latino Native American Cultural Center building. Final design is expected between Spring 2027 and Fall 2028. Officials anticipate seeking construction bids in Fall 2028, with work beginning in Spring 2029 and continuing over multiple construction seasons. (Government Market News - July 15, 2026)

NORTH DAKOTA PROJECTS

Applied Digital expands in North Dakota, eyes Oliver County for third data center
(Artificial Intelligence | Data Centers)

Applied Digital Corp., through subsidiary APLD BIS-01, is proposing a new AI data center ("AI Factory") south of Hanover near the intersection of state Highways 25 and 31 in Oliver County. This is a third such campus for the company alongside its existing Ellendale and Hardwood sites. The company submitted a rezoning application roughly two months before July 2026 (still pending a county vote), and on July 10, 2026, Oliver County commissioners signed a road-use and operations agreement setting terms for construction access, signaling the project is moving toward a construction start once zoning is approved. The facility is projected to create about 200 full-time jobs and roughly 1,000 temporary construction jobs; no dollar figure or firm construction start date has been disclosed yet. (Valley News Live - July 13, 2026)

Military Gallery construction pauses over funding
(Amphitheater | Municipal | Museum | Recreation & Entertainment | Restaurant)

This is a $78-million, 70,000-square-foot museum addition in Bismarck, a partnership between the North Dakota National Guard and the State Historical Society, featuring a 20,000-square-foot gallery, a Regimental Room for up to 400 guests, a restaurant, courtyard, and amphitheater. Construction broke ground in July 2025 and was underway until work was temporarily paused effective July 3, 2026, due to funding constraints, with the pause expected to last at least through July 31, 2026, pending resolution of a funding gap (the project relies on a 50/50 public-private funding split, including state-authorized credit lines and private fundraising). (Minot Daily News - July 3, 2026)

SOUTH DAKOTA PROJECTS

Notice of Intent to File Funding Application
(Transmission Line | Utilities | Watermain)

South Lincoln Rural Water System filed a Notice of Intent to seek federal financial assistance (USDA Rural Development / Rural Utilities Service) for roughly 36-miles of new transmission and distribution watermain to improve system delivery and add rural users. This is still at the funding-application stage. (The Dakota Scout - July 17, 2026)

WISCONSIN PROJECTS

City of Eau Claire Looks to Buy 230-Acre Parcel
(Future Development | Industrial)

As shared in the City Council agenda packet for the Thursday, July 14 meeting, the City plans to sign a purchase agreement with landowners Ambrose Suess and Jack Timm (representing the Suess Trust/Timm Trust) to purchase over 230-acres of land along County Highway EE for $1.75-million. According to the resolution document, the City has an interest in purchasing the eight-parcel piece of land "for future industrial expansion." (Volume One - July 9, 2026)

A rendering of "The Realta Forge," Realta Fusion's new headquarters and R&D facility located at the former Oscar Mayer factory on Madison's east side. (Photo by USA TODAY Network)

A massive nuclear fusion research center is coming to Madison's former Oscar Meyer plant. With financial backing from state and local governments, Realta Fusion (Madison, WI) will build a 200,000-square-foot research and development facility at the long-vacant factory site on Madison's east side. The facility will also double as the company's corporate headquarters. Dubbed "The Realta Forge," the new facility marks an expansion for the 50-person fusion company, which spun out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022. Its CEO wants to expand the research it's conducting with the university's Wisconsin HDS Axisymmetric Mirror, or "WHAM," a small-scale experimental fusion machine. The previous Oscar Meyer facility contains 1.7-million-square-feet of office and industrial space across eight buildings. Realta expects to break ground on the new facility by the end of 2026. (Finance & Commerce | USA Today Network via Reuters Connect - July 15, 2026)

'Walkable' Multi-Family Project Advances in Milwaukee Suburb
(Athletic Facility | EV Charging | Parking Structure | Parks & Open Spaces | Residential)

A 166-unit multi-family concept has been proposed next to a Costco in Franklin, Wisconsin, and the project has been proposed by LEO Franklin. However, the project faces opposition from Mayor John Nelson. The $51.6-million project (originally presented to the city in March 2026 as a proposal) would include townhomes, cottages, duplexes, and single-family rental homes near a future Costco. Developer Advenir Azora said the market-rate project will be privately funded with no request for tax increment funding. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, co-working space, EV charging stations, walkable green spaces, and possibly a fire pit. As for parking, 355 spaces are proposed as a combination of on-street and garage parking. (Finance & Commerce - July 13, 2026)