Building Buzz: Bridges, Bonds & Big Builds Across the Midwest
From a massive mixed-use vision in Newport to affordable housing plans in Brooklyn Park, this week’s Building Buzz shows how cities across the region are juggling industrial growth, housing needs, and long-term community planning.
Developers in Rogers are especially busy, with new market-rate apartments, a small-bay warehouse project, and even a 91-unit building breaking ground. Wisconsin continues its data center boom with multi-billion-dollar commitments from Vantage and QTS, each promising thousands of construction jobs and major infrastructure investment.
On the public side, the Blatnik Bridge replacement hits key milestones while Des Moines’ airport expansion moves ahead of schedule. Trends in water reuse, contractor backlogs, and planning activity offer a snapshot of where the industry’s momentum is building (and where it’s softening). And as Shakopee and Winona explore redevelopment and adaptive reuse, the region’s mix of challenges and opportunities feels as varied as the projects themselves.
Let's dive into what the first couple of weeks of November have to offer:
OCTOBER 29
Newport Project Adds Industrial Space, Workforce Housing
Affordable Housing | Bailey Farm Business Park | Commercial & Retail | Industrial | Multi-Family | Workforce Housing
United Properties' proposed Bailey Farm Business Park, a spec industrial development, would take up part of the 36-acre development site, which is near Interstate 494 and just north of Bailey Road / County Road 18. The site, known as the Bailey Farm property, would also hold 193 apartment units developed by Real Estate Equities. A Kwik Trip convenience store is also planned. A narrative in the EAW reveals that the project will provide "necessary industrial facilities, multi-family housing, and a commercial gas and convenience store to accommodate an increasing population in and around the city of Newport." Following the environmental review and comment period, the approval process for the project will continue, and construction could begin in Summer 2026. (Finance & Commerce)
OCTOBER 30
8th Circuit Upholds Contractor Law Injunction Denial
Industry News - 8th Circuit Court of Appeals | Construction Industry Regulation | Employment Law | Independent Contractor Classification | Labor Compliance | Minnesota Contractor Law
Last year, the Minnesota Legislature amended its independent contractor classification law, expanding a nine-factor test into a 14-factor framework. Construction trade organizations challenged the statute as unconstitutionally vague and in violation of the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause. However, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in an opinion filed October 24th, affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction, concluding the challengers were unlikely to succeed on either claim. Plaintiffs were the Minnesota Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Builders Association of Minnesota, and J&M Consulting (collectively, "the Contractors"). They claimed that this new statute upended the Minnesota construction industry by requiring compliance with each part of the new statute, or else convert their subcontractors' work into employees. (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 3
Bader, Ebert Plan 181 Market-Rate Apartments at Semi-Truck Site in Downtown Rogers
Athletic Facility | Demolition | Multi-Family | Parking Structure | Pool | Public Infrastructure | Soil Remediation | Storage
The project, led by Bader Development (St. Louis Park) and Ebert Cos. (Corcoran) would be located on a 4.6-acre site at 21601 John Deere Lane just off the city's Main Street, according to city documents. The site contains a 12,500-square-foot steel building, which would be demolished for the project, and land for parking and storage space used for servicing trucks. The site has soil contamination that would be remediated with the redevelopment. The apartment plans include 40 alcoves and studios, 70 one-bedroom units, 62 two-bedroom units and 9 three-bedroom units. Unit amenities may include quartz countertops, 9-foot ceilings, kitchen islands, stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets, balconies, washers and dryers, and built-in desks, according to a memo by the development team. The somewhat-H-shaped building would offer a centralized courtyard with a pool and clubhouse. Other proposed amenities include a pet spa, coffee lounge, bike storage, and fitness center. The development would have 163 surface-level parking stalls and one level of underground parking with 195 spaces. The intent is to start construction in Spring 2026. Ebert would be the general contractor on the project, while Bader would manage the property until construction completion. The development team is working with Collage Architects (Minneapolis) on the project. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
Developer Partners with Union Workers to Build Wisconsin Data Center
Wisconsin Projects - Artificial Intellgience | Data Center | Digital Infrastructure | Lighthouse Campus | Port Washington | Public Infrastructure | Sewer Systems | Union Labor | Vantage Data Centers | Water Systems | Wisconsin Unions
Construction work on the $15-billion data center project in Port Washington will be conducted by union workers. Vantage Data Centers (Denver, Colo.) announced it has partnered with the Wisconsin Building Trades Council to build the Lighthouse data center campus. In October, Vantage revealed that Oracle and OpenAI were investors for an artificial intelligence data center campus west of Interstate 43, which will have four data center buildings built on 500-acres and use more than a gigawatt of electricity. Through LLCs, Vantage bought around 2,000-acres of farmland north of the city. The partnership with WBTC will require a "peak workforce of more than 4,000 skilled construction workers over a three-year period," Vantage officials said. Vantage also said construction would begin "very soon" and is expected to be completed in 2028. The company will invest $175-million in infrastructure improvements in the facility area, including new water and sewer systems. (Finance & Commerce)
Lakeville Development Surges with New Projects & Plans
Athletic Facility | Civic Development | Commercial & Retail | Fire Department | Industrial | Lakeville Development | Mixed-Use | Municipal | Office | Parks & Open Spaces | Public Safety Facility | South Metro Construction | Storage | Warehouse
By now, it's old news that U.S. multi-family developers are holding their fire amid high interest rates and economic uncertainty. The Twin Cities metro is no exception: Cities across the 13-county region approved just six multi-family units in July, down from 154 a year earlier. Lakeville has seen its fair share of decent pipelines for lower-density housing, private commercial, and industrial projects. With more than 40 proposed, approved, or under-construction tracts in the city's pipeline, much of the residential action is in the single-family space. Denser housing projects are also moving forward, like the roughly 100 combined town-home and twin-home units the Lakeville City Council approved in May. The city's highest-profile recent and proposed projects, however, are commercial, industrial, and civic. The biggest --- and least certain at the moment --- is a San Francisco developer's proposal to bring at least 1.3-million-square-feet of industrial and possibly office to a 152-acre site on the city's southern fringe, between Kaparia and Jacquard Avenues south of 215th Street. The developer, Olam Holdings 1, completed an Alternative Urban Area-wide Review for the site in June. (Finance & Commerce)
St. Paul Port Authority Seeks Developers for Final Industrial Lots at The Heights Redevelopment
Industrial | Multi-Family | Redevelopment
The 122-acre redevelopment site, which will become a mixed-use community with up to 1,000 homes and 1-million-square-feet of light-industrial space, has four remaining industrial parcels available, according to SPPA representatives. These parcels range from 2-acres to over 6-acres. The site is located on the northeastern corner of the city along its border with Maplewood. On the north end of the site, developers Sherman Associates and JO Cos. plan to construct multi-family apartment buildings, but haven't yet broken ground. SPPA has an agreement with a not-yet-announced entity for a 120,000-square-foot industrial development on a 7-acre parcel at the southeast corner of the site along McKnight Road. All of the industrial parcels are connected to The Heights community geothermal systems, SPPA's website shows. The SPPA's goal is to have the entire redevelopment site built out by 2030. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
U.S. Water Reuse Boom to Fuel $47B in Infrastructure Spending Through 2035
Industry Trends - Sustainability | Wastewater Recycling & Treatment | Water Reuse
A new report from Bluefield Research, titled U.S. Municipal Water Reuse: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2025-2035, highlights growing momentum for recycling treatment wastewater as communities seek resilient and sustainable water supplies. Roughly 42% of the projected spending will go toward advanced treatment technologies, while conveyance pipelines --- often referred to as "purple pipes" --- and engineering design work will account for another 52%. More than 600 projects are currently in planning or development nationwide, supported by new state-level regulations and changing water demands across urban, agricultural, and industrial sectors. By 2035, potable reuse systems --- where treated water is purified for drinking --- are expected to represent 37% of new reuse capacity. (Underground Infrastructure)
NOVEMBER 4
Des Moines Airport Terminal Construction Ahead of Schedule, Set to Open By End of 2029
Iowa Projects - Airport | Efficiency Updates | Terminals
With the latest approval to build four new gates, the airport's Lift DSM project is on track to conclude ahead of the initial project timeline. The Airport Authority Board recently approved the final phase of the project, a two-story building that will extend to Fleur Drive. Lift DSM aims to "build a modern, efficient, and welcoming airport," according to a news release. All of the new terminals will be "modern" while serving more passengers. The Des Moines International Airport had seen an increase in the number of passengers from 2024 as of July. The expansion would serve the capacity projected through 2050. (Des Moines Register)
Winona Chuch May Become Homeless Shelter
Affordable Housing | Catholic Charities | Homeless Shelter
Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota is expected to go to the city council later this month for approval of a comprehensive plan amendment, which would allow the proposed new use of the property at 614 and 624 West Sixth Street. If the city council signs off on the amendment, potentially at its November 17th meeting, the project would still be subject to additional approvals, including rezoning and a conditional use permit. The repurposed chuch property, that narrative says, would provide "a full continuum of care" for people experiencing homelessness, including emergency shelter, case management resources, and "rapid rehousing support." (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 5
Developer Pitches Office-Warehouse Development Aimed at Small Businesses in Rogers
Commercial & Retail | Industrial | Office | Warehouse
The Rogers Planning Commission recommended approval of plans for a project aiming to build two office-warehouse buildings totaling 62,190-square-feet. The project is being led by CRCL (St Louis Park). The buildings would be situated on a 3.5-acre vacant parcel along Commerce Boulevard in an already industrial-heavy area of the city. The development would include two single-story buildings with 36 bays --- smaller units within larger buildings --- to be leased by small-business tenants. Each unit would feature an overhead door and the option for an internal office or mezzanine, according to city documents. The site would have 64 stalls spread across the two buildings. Zeman Construction (Golden Valley) is the general contractor on the project while Tanek Inc. (Minneapolis) is the architect. The Rogers City Council is expected to consider the project on November 13th. If approved, the developer expects construction to begin in Spring 2026. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
Rogers Advances Two-Building Small-Bay Project
Commercial & Retail | Industrial | Small Bay Warehouse | Storage | Warehouse
Rogers is one step closer to a new industrial development after the city's planning body has the green light for a site plan for two new buildings, which would total 62,190-square-feet. The project would be two small-bay warehouses, both of which would be single-story and intended to serve small businesses, according to city planning documents. The Rogers Planning Commission recommended approval of the project. The development, should it receive other necessary approvals, will be located on a 3.5-acre site off of Commerce Boulevard, near the intersection of that street and George Weber Drive, according to Hennepin County maps. The developer of the site is CRCL Group, planning documents show. Sambatek, an engineering firm, submitted the proposal to the city. The construction of the site is to begin in Spring 2026 and wrap up in Fall 2027. According to the staff report, the property is meant to support "local entrepreneurs, contractors, distributors, and more to give them access to areas for storage or production. (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 6
Shakopee to Buy Blighted Downtown Site for Redevelopment
Asbestos Removal | Commercial & Retail | Demolition | Mixed-Use | Soil Remediation
The Shakopee Economic Development Authority approved a $75,000 purchase agreement for the property at 124 Sommerville Street South, which will be demolished to make way for redevelopment. The building currently occupying the site is in rough shape. A city staff report reveals that the building is "currently vacant and in poor structural condition due to its age and construction type. The roof exhibits visible deflection, and the site walls show signs of stress and bowing, indicating significant instability. Portions of the building have only a dirt floor and lack a true foundation." Given the sites' prior uses, the site requires some soil and asbestos removal, though perhaps not as much as might be expected. After demolition and soil remediation, the next steps include working with an architect on concept plans and going out for a request for proposals. The staff report notes that the roughly 4,000-square-foot parcel is ideally suited for new retail or mixed-use infill development. (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 7
Kwik Trip Plans Edina Location at Former Apartment-Redevelopment Site
Commercial & Retail | Fueling Stations | Parking Structure
Kwik Trip recently submitted a sketch plan to the city of Edina for the new location, which would be located at 5780 Lincoln Drive just off Highway 169. The 2.59-acre site currently contains an office building constructed in 1981. Kwik Trip's planned 9,176-square-foot Edina location would be open 24-hours per day, offer products similar to its other existing Midwest stores, have 32 parking spaces, and include 10 fueling stations, according to the chain's sketch plan submittal. It would not have a car wash. The Edina Planning Commission is set to informally review the project on November 12th. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
NOVEMBER 10
Graco Plans New Headquarters in Dayton to Replace Northeast Minneapolis Riverfront Site
Facility | Industrial | Office | Parking Structure | Warehouse
Graco plans to build a new headquarters in Dayton after announcing earlier this year it would exit its longtime home base along the Mississippi River in northeast Minneapolis. Graco, a manufacturer of fluid-handling systems, has submitted a concept plan to the city of Dayton to construct a three-story office building on a vacant, 27-acre site situated between the company's existing industrial properties overlooking French Lake. The new headquarters could span over 85,000-square-feet, according to city documents. The early proposal shows plans for 227 parking spaces, which is below the city requirement, but the city documents note this number could change. The overall size of the building is also still in flux based on needs. Graco also plans to pursue the development of an additional facility to the west of the headquarters building. That facility would likely have either warehouse or distribution uses. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
QTS Plans $!2B Data Center, Jobs Boost for Wisconsin
Wisconsin Projects - Data Center | Job Creation | Renewable Energy | Tech Infrastructure
QTS Data Centers (Virginia) has announced it will advance plans for a $12-billion data center development and a $50-million community commitment for Dane County, which will include direct investment in DeForest and Vienna, less than 20-miles north of Madison. If approved by the DeForest Village Board, the project will be a "landmark investment in Wisconsin" and will create more than 5,000 construction jobs. Officials said there was a proposed agreement between QTS and Alliant Energy to enable renewable resources and lower the cost for Alliant Energy's planned renewable facilities. The agreement will be facilitated by the sale of renewable energy credits from around 750-megawatts of renewable energy sources. (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 11
Blatnik Bridge Replacement Enters RFP Phase on Schedule
Bridge | Municipal | Public Infrastructure | Reconstruction | Replacement
Things are moving along on schedule to replace the more than 60-year-old Blatnik Bridge between Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wisc. MnDOT published the formal RFP on November 10th, which notes a public opening of submitted proposals date of June 23, 2026, and notice to proceed to the selected contractor in September. One of the primary goals of the project is to create a bridge that reliably provides local, regional, and international transportation without restricting the movement of freight. Other goals include minimizing impacts to the port, traffic, and nearby residents and businesses, avoiding environmental impact, enhancing small business participation in the project, and completing the bridge before October 31, 2031. Proposals will be graded on a 41.5-point total scale, with maintenance of the bridge and construction and durability being given the heaviest weights at 15 and 12 points, respectively. In late July, MnDOT issued an RFQ. Two companies that submitted statements of qualifications were shortlisted for the project on November 4th. One of the companies is a joint venture between Ames Construction (Blaine) and Kraemer North America (Plain, WI). The other company is Lunda Construction (Black River Falls, WI). (Finance & Commerce)
Rogers to Consider 181-Unit Apartment Contract
Multi-Family | Parking Structure | Pool
Ebert Cos, and Badger Development are pitching a new, market-rate development close to Rogers' downtown, according to city planning documents. The proposed development is located at 21601 John Deere Lane. It is zoned and guided for a mixed-use district and allows for up to 40 units per acre. If the project were completed as proposed, it would have 39 units per acre. The proposed 181-units would be spread across three-stories, and the building would be configured in an H-shape. On either side of the middle section of the building will be "two distinct courtyards," according to planning documents. One courtyard will have a pool area, grills, a fire pit, and sitting areas. The second courtyard will act as a "green buffer" between the property and the street in addition to reducing the perceived mass of the property. The property's unit mix will be 40 studio / alcove units, 58 one-bedroom units, 12 one-bedroom-with-den, another 62 two-bedroom units, and the remaining 9 units will have three bedrooms. The property will have a level of underground parking dedicated to 195 stalls with another 163 surface stalls. The project will be completed in one phase with an anticipated start in Spring 2026 and with anticipated completion in Fall 2027. (Finance & Commerce)
NOVEMBER 12
91-Unit Apartment Project Breaks Ground in Rogers
Breaking Ground - Asguard Apartments | Market-Rate Apartments | Multi-Family | Nottingham Construction | Residential
Nottingham Construction recently began pushing dirt for the 91-unit Asguard Apartments, the second part of a three-phase development at the corner of 141st Avenue and Rogers Drive in the Twin Cities suburb. The market-rate apartments are scheduled for completion in Fall 2026. Crews started with tree clearing and grading last month and began pouring footings and foundations last week. There is a third phase just to the east of the apartment site, which is a future commercial component. (Finance & Commerce)
Project Costs Stymy Construction Planning
Industry News - Commercial Planning | Dodge Momentum Index | Economy | Institutional Projects | Nonresidential Construction | Planning Stages
After a streak of record-setting months, the pipeline of future nonresidential construction shrank in October. The Dodge Momentum Index fell 7.1% in October. Commercial planning activity declined 2.9% during the month, along with a 15.2% drop in institutional projects, according to the report. Despite the pullback, the index still sits at 35% above its year-to-date level from 2024, according to Dodge. Indeed, compared to October last year, planning activity climbed 52%, with commercial and institutional up 54% and 49% respectively. However, if data center projects are excluded, commercial growth would sit at 43%. Planning activity softened for other commercial sectors in October as well, including warehouses and hotels. Institutional activity, which covers education projects, also lost momentum in October. That slow level of construction planning could continue in the short term, especially if contractors continue to contend with elevated project costs. (Construction Dive)
We Energies Proposes Energy Expansion Across Wisconsin
Wisconsin Projects - Battery Storage | Expansion | Facility | Natural Gas Facility | Power Infrastructure | Power Grid | Renewable Energy | Solar
The planned expansion is to add nearly 3 gigawatts of energy capacity to Wisconsin's power grid. The We Energies proposal, filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, includes 7 solar projects, 1 battery storage project, 2 modern natural gas plants, and upgrades to existing power facilities to enhance reliability. The expansion plan is set to power data centers and other energy-intensive customers, driving economic growth and creating thousands of construction jobs. (ConstructConnect News)
NOVEMBER 13
Blatnik Bridge Lacks DBE Goals in $1.8B Project
Industry News - Blatnik Bridge | Bridge Replacement | DBE Goals | Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) | Federal Transportation Funding | Infrastructure | Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) | Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) | Workforce Development
Unlike the Green Line extension in the Twin Cities and other high-profile projects, the Blatnik Bridge project is moving forward without any official goals for participation of small, minority-, or women-owned businesses (also known as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, or DBEs). The Blatnik project, scheduled to begin next year, comes on the heels of a recent decision by the federal government to reconstitute the U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. Earlier this fall, as previously reported, the DOT published a final ruling that removed race- and gender-based criteria to participate in federal contracts as a DBE business. The Blatnik project will be funded with a mix of federal and state money. Each state is contributing $400-million, and the federal government has committed roughly $1-billion. (Finance & Commerce)
Contractor Backlog Slips, Strength Depends on Sector
Industry News - ABC Confidence Index | Construction Backlog Indicator | Economy
Construction backlog dipped to 8.4-months in October, down 0.1-months from September, according to an Associated Builders & Contractors survey. Firms with $30-million to $100-million in revenues added to their pipelines. But at the extremes, for companies with revenue below $30-million or above $100-million, builders posted overall backlog declines, according to the report. Contractor confidence slid as more firms signaled cooling activity ahead. Still, all three confidence metrics --- expectations for sales, profit margins, and staffing --- stayed above 50, which indicates growth expectations over the next six months, according to ABC. (Construction Dive)
NOVEMBER 14
JO Cos. Plans $40.5M Affordable Housing Development in Brooklyn Park
Affordable Housing | Athletic Facility | Mixed-Use | MultI-Family | Parking Structure
JO Cos. seeks to develop two vacant sites, totaling 3.8-acres, owned by the city's Economic Development Authority at 7621 and 7601 Brooklyn Boulevard, with as many as 190-units when fully built out. The two buildings would be situated across Welcome Avenue North from each other. The west building, which would be a $40.5-million first phase, would have 100 affordable units. JO would seek to utilize the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and target an affordability level of between 50% to 60% of the area median income. Meanwhile, a second phase would involve the development of an east building, which would include between 70-90 units. This building could be anything from affordable, age-restricted, or mixed-use. The buildings would have one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units. Units will have washers and dryers, balconies, and access to the community's anticipated fitness center, underground parking, and community room.JO hopes to close on construction financing by late 2026 or early 2027 if it can secure site approvals and funding from various government entities. The developer is working with Pope Design Group (St. Paul) on the project. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
Wayzata Schools Plan $465M Bond Referendum for Growth
Bond Referendum | Elementary School | K-12 School | Middle School | Pool | Renovation | School Facilities | Security | Wayzata High School
The Wayzata School Board agreed to hold a special election in April. Up for voter approval will be a nearly $500-million bond referendum to pay for an expansion of Wayzata High School, a new elementary school, and a new middle school. Also included in the $465-million building plan are safety and security improvements, kitchen and cafeteria upgrades, special education renovations, and flexible learning spaces at middle schools. The high school addition would, among other things, add classrooms and labs to support projected enrollment. Separately, district residents will vote on plans for an eight-lane, $31-million pool at Wayzata High School, as well as a technology levy renewal. The district has been working with Wold Architects & Engineers and Kraus-Anderson on the facilities plan, which has been years in the making. (Finance & Commerce)
