MBEX Has the Scoop

New Minnesota Laws In Effect as of July 1, 2025

A slate of new state laws took effect a week ago on July 1, 2025, teeing up new fraud-mitigation measures in state government, additional regulations for social media influencers, an official state fossil (the giant beaver), and more.

Among these were a slew of changes and updates that have both a direct and indirect impact on Minnesota's construction industry and its workers. We have included the bigger highlights below, but a full legislative summary can be found at the end.
 

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Article 2: Labor Appropriations

Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Budget
The DLI budget is established in Article 2 of SF17. This section details changes in the budget, including the following:

•  Misclassification Enforcement: The Labor Standards Division will receive an additional $281,000 in FY26 and an additional $286,000 ongoing from the general fund for misclassification enforcement.

•  Misclassification Fraud Impact Report: DLI will receive an additional $460,000 in FY26 and $160,000 in FY27 from the general fund to complete a misclassification fraud impact report.

•  Construction Worker Mental Health: The Construction Codes and Licensing Division will receive $500,000 in FY26 and $500,000 in FY27 from the workforce development fund for initiatives to promote mental health and prevent suicide in the construction industry. The funds are a one-time appropriation and are available until June 30, 2029.

•  Single-Egress Stairway Report: The availability of funds for the report is extended until June 30, 2026.

•  The funding for Dual-Training Pipeline has been consolidated to provide additional flexibility in the use of funds.

Direct Appropriations
This section details appropriations to DLI where the grant recipient is named in statute.

•  In FY26, $500,000 from the workforce development fund to the Minnesota Virtual Academy career pathways program with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. This is a one-time appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
•  In FY26 and in FY27, $400,000 from the workforce development fund to Building Strong Communities for apprenticeship readiness programming. This is a one-time appropriation.
•  An additional $13,000 ongoing from the workforce development fund to Building Strong Communities for the Helmets to Hardhats program. Overall, this appropriate is now $238,000 ongoing.
 

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Article 5: Labor Policy

Strengthening Break Laws
•  Employers will now be required to allow an employee a paid rest break of 15-minutes or enough time to use the nearest restroom, whichever is longer, for every four hours worked. Employers will be required to allow an employee an unpaid meal break of 30-minutes for every six hours worked.
•  This change will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Temporary Restraining Orders
•  Article 5, Section 6, establishes the commissioner's authority to apply for an order enjoining and restraining violations of employment laws under DLI's jurisdiction. Previously, DLI only had this authority for violations of the Child Labor Act. Some violations, including certain violations of the Women's Economic Security Act, retaliation and more, are so time-sensitive that irreparable damage may be done to the employee by the time a compliance order is issued and resolved with an employer. This authority provides a pathway to swiftly restrain and enjoin violations of that nature.
•  This change goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

Misclassification Fraud Impact Report
•  Article 5, Section 9, establishes a misclassification fraud impact report that the commissioner must complete by January 15, 2027, and provides associated funding. It also establishes that the commissioners of the Department of Revenue and the Department of Employment and Economic Development must coordinate with the DLI commissioner on the report.
•  It also requires that the commissioners of the departments of Labor and Industry, Revenue, and Employment and Economic Development must submit a budget request detailing the costs to complete another report by January 15, 2031, and every six years thereafter.

Earned Sick and Safe Time
The following changes will be made to the earned sick and safe time (ESST) law:

•  Updates notice requirements when the need for ESST is unforeseeable;
•  Updates documentation requirements such that an employer may require reasonable documentation when an employee uses earned sick and safe time for more than two consecutive scheduled work days;
•  Updates replacement-worker requirements to clarify an employee may voluntarily seek or trade shifts with a replacement worker; and
•  Updates requirements related to advancing sick and save time to an employee before accrual buy the employee.

Construction Codes and Licensing Division Fee Alignment
CCLD fee alignment proposals is included over the next several sections, including the following:

•  Article 5, Section 14: Correcting a reference to the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training;
•  Article 5, Sections 15-19: Establishes plan review and inspections fees for industrialized / modular or prefabricated buildings, as well as associated definitions;
•  Article 5, Section 20: Establishes the $10 virtual inspection fees and includes class 4 electrical systems policy;
•  Article 5, Section 21: Increases the elevator operating permit fee to $145;
•  Article 5, Sections 22-30: Updates electrical inspection fees and includes class 4 electrical systems policy;
•  Article 5, Section 31: Integrates the fee schedule for energy storage and battery systems into law;
•  Article 5, Sections 23-34: Establishes plumbing plan review and plumbing inspection fees;
•  Article 5, Section 35: Increases the boiler and pressure vessel registration fee to $25;
•  Article 5, Section 36: Updates a definition of "manufactured home" for federal conformity;
•  Article 5, Section 37 & 40: Updates requirements for the notice of compliance form for a used manufactured home to require licenses to file the form with the commissioner and pay a filing fee of $100. It also establishes requirements to complete the notice of compliance form for rentals and filing the notice of compliance form are effective January 1, 2026;
•  Article 5, Sections 38-40 & Sections 47-48: Provides technical changes to manufactured home sections; and
•  Article 5, Sections 41-43 & 45-46: Updates fees related to manufactured homes.

Plumbing Plan Review & Inspections delegated to the Minnesota Department of Health for well contractors performing plumbing work
•  Article 5, Section 32, directs the commissioner to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) delegating plumbing plan review and inspections for work covered under Minnesota Statutes section 326B.46, subdivision 6, by January 1, 2026.
•  It also scopes what the agreement with MDH must contain and how the agreement may be terminated.
•  This section became effective June 15, 2025.

Data Center Regulations
•  Section 17, Paragraph I, provides that laborers and mechanics performing work on qualified, large-scale data centers must be paid the prevailing-wage rate and that the project is subject to prevailing-wage enforcement.
•  This is effective for sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025.
 

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Regular Session Laws

Housing Policy Omnibus

Wood-Frame Carpenter Prevailing-Wage Rate
•  This provision provides a path to using the federal Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage rate for residential wood-frame carpenter projects up to six-stories, when the only source of financial assistance for the project is low-income housing tax credits.
•  The section of law establishing this path expires December 31, 2027.
•  This provision became effective May 24, 2025.

Underground Telecommunications Installers bill
This law makes updates to the underground telecommunication installers law, including the following:

•  It removes requirements that no fewer than two safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers must be present at all times where telecommunications infrastructure is being installed by means of directional drilling.
•  It updates effective dates such that all installations of underground telecommunications infrastructure in the state must be performed by safety-qualified underground telecommunications installers beginning January 1, 2026.
•  In provides a grandfathering provision that allows an approved training provider to apply to the commissioner to receive approval for equivalent or substantially equivalent classroom instruction course material delivered up to two years prior to becoming an approved training provider and before January 1, 2026. Once approved, a training provider may grant full or partial retroactive credit for completion of this training. A person granted retroactive credit must successfully complete the exam to be certified as a safety-qualified underground telecommunications installer.
•  The effective date for all provisions is May 20, 2025.

Worker's Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) bill
The technical provisions of the bill amend Chapter 176. These provisions are effective May 23, 2025, unless otherwise noted:

•  Clarification concerning who qualifies as an employee for purposes of workers' compensation related to certain direct care programs under the Minnesota Department of Human Services;
•  Clarification of the definition of a corporate executive officer related to workers' compensation insurance requirements;
•  Clarification related to the payment for nursing services provided by a household member of an injured worker;
•  Technical changes to certain filing provisions in chapter 176;
•  Increases the limit of the amount of workers' compensation benefits the is non-assignable, effective for dates of injury on or after October 1, 2025; and
•  Repeal of Minnesota Rules, part 5220.2840, which was previously fully codified into statute.

The bill also includes provisions that amend Chapter 176 and 79, addressing workers' compensation fraud in the construction industry and workers' compensation policies allowed for certain construction projects. These provisions are effective as noted individually below:

•  It adds a definition for a key term used in the rest of the language, "zero estimated exposure policy," effective May 23, 2025.
•  It adds additional public information required to be reported by an insurer when issuing a zero estimated exposure policy, effective January 1, 2026.
•  It requires a construction employer that obtains zero estimated exposure policy to provide all entities with which it directly contracts to provide construction or improvement services written notification of its use of the policy and a copy of the policy, and for the entity receiving the notification to maintain the documents for three years. This is effective January 1, 2026.
•  It requires insurers to include a statement as part of any zero estimated exposure policy application that attests to the accuracy of the application, including the absence of employees and estimated zero exposure. This "attestation" must include specific language as described in the statute. This provision is effective for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
•  It allows for use of an owner or contractor-controlled insurance program in which a series of workers' compensation policies are issued to a project sponsor to cover the workers' compensation liability for multiple contactors on a specific project and sets out a requirement necessary to apply for the series of policies and the process for approval or disapproval with the Department of Commerce. This provision is effective January 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Broadband Finance Omnibus
This bill funds the Office of Broadband Development that DLI coordinates with regarding the underground telecommunications installer requirements. Relevant to that work, this bill provides $50,000 for a study of factors that may contribute to incorrect marking for the installation of underground telecommunication infrastructure. The study must include recommendations to the Legislature.

 

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You can view the full 2025 legislative session summary here. Listed above are all the changes and updates that have both a direct and indirect impact on Minnesota's construction industry and its workers. 

This information is also provided and intended for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered as legal advice. MBEX strongly recommends consulting with your business' attorney or legal advisor before taking any action based on its content.

Building Buzz: Packed With Projects & Policy Moves

Welcome back to Building Buzz, your roundup of the latest developments shaping our built environment.

From affordable housing projects popping up in Cottage Grove and St. Cloud to a potential shake-up for a major mixed-use site in Cottage Grove, there's a lot happening across the region. Developers are reacting to new state utility line regulations, pickleball facilities are expanding in Lakeville, and environmental concerns take center stage in Wisconsin.

We’re also tracking a range of infrastructure updates, legal disputes, and a big boost to industrial real estate in the Midwest. Whether you're focused on housing, highway work, or high temps on the jobsite, there's something in here for you.

Dive in below and stay in the know on what’s next in construction across our region.
 

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JUNE 23

Cottage Grove Approves $55M Affordable Housing Project to Address Rental Shortage
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family  |  Playground
Last week, Cottage Grove approved a plan by developer Real Estate Equities to construct a $55-milklion affordable apartment project --- as well as some local funding to help get it built. The 164-unit building, which would be located at 10015 Hamlet Avenue, is aimed at easing a tight market for affordable housing in the east-metro suburb. The plan for the four-story building includes 35 one-bedroom units at 663-square-feet each; 86 two-bedroom units at 939- to 1,149-square-feet each; and 43 three-bedroom units at 1,326- to 1,359-square-feet each. Each unit will have granite countertops, vinyl plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, and in-unit laundry. An outdoor recreational space, a playground, a dog run, clubhouse, a fitness center, and a clubroom with connected outdoor patio are planned for the property. The building will be 242,116-square-feet in total. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Minnesota Becomes the Latest State to Require Developers to Pay the Cost of Relocating Utility Lines
Legal Matters - Developer Litigation  |  Relocation Costs  |  Utility Lines
If you have ever viewed a property survey, you know just how detailed and technical they can be. This is particularly true in urban and suburban areas, where years of development have resulted in parcels being chopped, divided, combined, and rearranged any number of times. The properties will often be crisscrossed with water, electrical, and communication lines and dotted with boxes, vaults, meters, hydrants, and other pieces of equipment, usually placed in the public right-of-way lining adjacent streets and highways. Whenever a developer seeks to build on a property, or a municipality seeks to expand or move a road, these utility lines and equipment must often be relocated. This can be an expensive process, adding hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to construction budgets. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Wayzata Fights Back Against Lawsuit Over TCF Site Redevelopment, Seeks Dismissal
In Development - Redevelopment Dispute
The city of Wayzata is pushing back against a lawsuit filed last month over plans to redevelop the former TCF Financial Corp. headquarters in the city's downtown. According to a May lawsuit, the city improperly imposed conditions when it approved plans by Lake West Development to build a three-story, 99,000-square-foot building at 200 Lake Street East, and that the city unjustly denied plans for a different, four-story design for the building. In its filing, Wayzata denied the allegations and maintained its decisions were lawful in all respects. It is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, saying it lacked a valid legal claim. The city approved plans for a three-story redevelopment proposal on May 6th, but required the building to have a pedestrian walkway through the property that extends through all floors, effectively splitting it into two separate buildings. Lake West argued the mandate was unlawful because it is not included in the city's code. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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JUNE 24

Affordable Senior Housing Planned in St. Cloud
Affordable Housing  |  Community & Assisted Living  |  Parking Structure  |  Storage
The Central Minnesota Housing Partnership (CMHP) wants to build a 58-unit affordable senior housing project on city-owned property at 1618 Pinecone Road. The nonprofit developer has an agreement to buy the site from the St. Cloud HRA for $1. Construction could begin in 2026 or 2027, but that timeline hinges on a successful funding application. The project will be presented to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for funding consideration on July 10th, with a decision expected in December. To make the project more competitive for funding, the CMHP is adding amenities that "make the project beneficial to the tenants that live there," while offering affordability levels ranging from 30% of the area's median income to 60% AMI. Amenities include attached garages, designated storage facilities, in-unit washers and dryers, community rooms, and controlled entrances. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Wisconsin Supreme Court Backs PFAS Pollution Cleanup
Environmental Awareness - Contamination Clean-Up  |  "Forever Chemicals"  |  Hazardous Substances  |  PFAS
The Wisconsin Supreme Court delivered a victory for environmentalists in the fight over "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, issuing a ruling that advocates said will hold polluters accountable. The court rules that state regulators can force landowners to clean up emerging pollutants such as PFAS before they are officially designated as hazardous substances. The Wisconsin Supreme Court rules in a case brought by the state's largest business group, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which sued the DNR in 2021 on behalf of Leather Rich, a dry cleaning business in Oconomowoc. Leather Rich became aware of PFAS contamination in 2018 and was working on cleaning it up when the DNR posted a message online in 2019 saying it now considered PFAS chemicals a hazardous substance. The agency ordered the dry cleaner to test its groundwater for PFAS but didn't tell the business which compounds it needed to test for or what levels it would be considered dangerous. They argued the DNR can't force business to test and clean up contamination from emerging pollutants like PFAS without first designating them as hazardous substances. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 25

67-Unit Infill Project Planned in Mendota Heights
Multi-Family
Condor Corporation recently submitted a "concept plan" to the city of Mendota Heights for a new four-story, 67-unit apartment building project on the northwest side of the Lexington Heights complex, which is at 2320 Lexington Avenue. The existing residential complex includes three buildings with a combined 225-units. The new building would occupy an underused part of the campus between a parking lot and Interstate 35E. The expansion, which requires an amendment to the "planned unit development" approved in 1983, would increase the density at the site from 13.9-units per acre to 18.1 per acre. Plans submitted to the city show 23 one-bedroom (663-squre-feet), 23 one-bedroom-plus-den (884-square-feet), and 21 two-bedroom units (up to 1,037-square-feet). A project narrative reveals that the applicant plans to increase the one-bedroom size units to 700-square-feet. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Greater Minnesota Water Projects Will Flow From Legislature's Bonding Package
Public Infrastructure  |  Wastewater  |  Water Treatment
Three-hundred miles separate Appleton from Aurora, but big water infrastructure needs contrasted against limited tax bases put them in the same boat among Greater Minnesota communities. Appleton, in the western part of the state, has about 1,400 people. Far to the northeast, Aurora's population is slightly higher at around 1,700. They share similar median household incomes in the $40,000 range. When cities are working with those numbers, building a new treatment plant for drinking or wastewater becomes a pipe dream without outside assistance. That's where state and federal funding comes in. Minnesota's Water Infrastructure Fund (WIF) is a critical source of help for the two cities, plus dozens of others farther down the alphabetical order on the state's project priority lists. The program's funding will keep flowing, mostly to Greater Minnesota, after legislators allocated $87-million during a special session completed earlier this month. (MinnPost)
 

Heat Safety Top Priority for Construction Crews
Jobsite Safety - Heat Safety  |  OSHA  |  Water, Rest & Shade
Last weekend in Wisconsin and Minnesota saw heat indexes in the high 90s and low 100s with heavy humidity. Following the warmest weekend so far, construction safety experts offered some tips for dealing with heat on a job site. While there's no standard heat rule right now, OSHA's "Water, Rest and Shade" campaign has set a working example for employers. According to OSHA guidelines, workers who return from an extended absence should start their first day working around 20% at full intensity in the heat and build up another 20% each day to get acclimated. Those workers should hydrate often and drink at least one cup of water or similar hydration every 20 minutes, especially when the heat is in the 90s. Different job sites call for different solutions for break and shade areas. If a construction site is at grading or excavation stages, workers might want to seek out a tent or a job trailer to take cover from the sun, for example. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Hempel, TPG Angelo Gordon Launch $300M Industrial Joint Venture Targeting Midwest Growth
Industrial  |  Parking Structure 
Hempel Real Estate has teamed up with an out-of-state investment firm to deploy $300-million to build and acquire industrial properties in the Midwest over the next five years. The commercial real estate firm has formed a joint venture with TPG Angelo Gordon, a diversified credit and real estate investment platform of TPG Inc. The joint venture's first use of the capital is in the Brockton Business Park, which Hempel is developing in Corcoran. The company has broken ground on the first phase of the project, which includes a 286,120-square-foot industrial building. The site includes trailer and car parking, direct access to County Road 101 and proximity to Interstate 94. Completion of the shell of the building is slated for the second quarter of 2026. Hempel also plans to pursue a second phase with 252,120-square-feet of industrial space. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Lunda Construction Wins $101.2M Minnesota Highway Project
Bridges  |  Roadwork
Lunda Construction will break the pavements on two Minnesota highways. Lunda was awarded a $34-million project to work on Highway 169 in Jordan, Minn., according to Tutor Perini, Lunda's parent company. In early June, the company won a $67.2-million bid from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to work on the Interstates 94 and 394 interchange in Minneapolis. Lunda will build four bridges and 14 cast-in-place retaining walls along Highway 169, Tutor Perini officials said. Crews will also build 34 bridges and ramps along I-394 and I-94 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100, officials said. The project also calls for maintenance work on the Dunwoody Boulevard ramp and replacing the deck for the Penn Avenue Bridge that crosses over I-394 and other improvements along I-394 between downtown Minneapolis and Highway 100, officials added. Work on I-94 and I-394 is expected to begin in July and substantial completion is expected in Summer 2027. (The Daily Reporter)
 

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JUNE 26

Cottage Grove Mixed-Use Project Faces Uncertainty as Developer May Exit
Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Residential  |  Restaurant
A major commercial project in Cottage Grove may soon need a new developer. The city has been working to redevelop a 74-acre site along Highway 61 since 2012, when a drive-in theater shut down. The proposed mixed-use project, the Shoppes at Cottage View, is one of the largest of its kind in Cottage Grove, with a concept plan including more than 473,000-square-feet of residential, retail, and entertainment space. However, the company with a development option for the site, River Caddis Development, has not submitted development plans, a city administrator said. And city officials are skeptical they'll see anything from River Caddis before its option expires at the end of the year, though they're optimistic another developer will be found to take over, according to a third-party report commissioned by the city. Current concept plans calls for six retail and entertainment businesses, four mixed-use buildings, two restaurants, four apartment buildings, and 48 townhomes. Those plans could change if a new developer steps in. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Pickle in the Middle Proposes 24/7 Pickleball Facility in Lakeville
Athletic Facility  |  Facility  |  Security Systems
The pickleball courts operator, which has locations in Brooklyn Park and Lake Elmo, seeks to open a 42,000-square-foot indoor facility within a larger industrial building under construction at 21300 Juniper way. This could the Pickle in the Middle's third location. The facility would be open 24-hours per day, seven days per week, similar to their other locations. Guests would need to enter a code to access the facility according to city documents. It would be monitored by security cameras and a facility manager who would visit the site daily at various times. The facility would have 15 pickleball courts, storage lockers, a lobby and a meeting room. No food or beverage options will be available on-site. Pickle in the Middle is seeking a conditional use permit for the facility. If approved, the company expects to open the facility in Winter 2026. The company is working with Lampert Architects on the project. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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JUNE 27

Crystal Halts Development in Town Center to Craft 25-Year Vision for Suburban Downtown
Development Opportunities
Crystal City Council is blocking new developments in its main commercial district as it drafts a vision for the area. Crystal's Town Center, a 220-acre area around Bass Lake Road and West Broadway Avenue, has been heating up with investor interest --- but a moratorium will block any new development for the next year while city leaders create a strategic plan for the neighborhood. The vision is expected to be completed by the end of the year and set the stage for the area's next 25 years, essentially creating a downtown for the inner-ring suburb. Crystal Town Center is a classic postwar retail area with strip malls and large parking lots. It has a mix of uses, including retail, light industrial, residential and the recently revamped 12-acre Becker Park. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Developer Plans 54-Unit Affordable Apartment Project for Minneapolis' East Lake Street
Affordable Housing  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
A new mixed-use development on East Lake Street in Minneapolis with 54 affordable apartments and commercial space is one step closer to construction. LUL Bros Properties plans to build an 8-story building that will include 4,444-square-feet of commercial space. The property is in the Midtown Phillips neighborhood, at 1200 and 1204 Lake Street East. That location is across the street from another apartment project LUL Bros. intends to build. The city's Business, Housing & Zoning Commission voted to the support the project last week. The 54 affordable apartments will be made up of 6 studio units; 6 one-bedroom units; 36 two-bedrooms units; and 6 three-bedroom units. LUL Bros plans to construct 21 underground parking spaces as well. The project is expected to go before the Minneapolis City Council next month when affordability levels for the building are expected to be established. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

How the 'Big Beautiful Bill' Could Impact Affordable Housing Construction
Government Affairs - Affordable Housing  |  Low-Income Housing Tax Credit  |  One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The Trump administration's sprawling tax and spending bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could have major impacts on affordable housing. The legislation would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, considered the primary funding mechanism for affordable housing construction in the U.S. It would also extend and make key reforms to opportunity zones, a federal tool that provides tax benefits to developers that invest in distressed, low-income areas of the country. Analysis from accounting firm Novogradac & Co. estimates the low-income housing tax credit provisions in the House's version of the bill, which passed last month, could produce 500,000 additional housing units over the next decade. Another version, introduced by the Senate Finance Committee earlier this month, includes low-income housing tax credit provisions that could produce more than 1-million affordable rental units during that time. (Smart Cities Dive)
 

Building Buzz: Mixed-Use, Mass Timber & Momentum

Welcome to this week’s edition of Building Buzz, where we round up the most significant updates in construction and development across the region.

From high-stakes redevelopment debates in Eden Prairie to the future of a massive landfill-turned-sports-complex in Burnsville, there’s no shortage of intrigue. We’re also tracking fresh housing projects in Lake Elmo and Oakdale, a record-breaking mass timber tower in Milwaukee, and a surge of activity in senior living developments.

On the economic side, tariff tensions continue to ripple through architecture and construction planning. And if that wasn’t enough, a robotics giant just announced a $180M campus in Wisconsin.

Buckle up — this post is a bit longer than usual, but with so much happening across the industry, you won’t want to miss a single update.
 

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JUNE 7

South Dakota is On Track to Spend $2B on Prisons in the Next Decade
Development Outlook - Correctional Facilities
Two years after approving a tough-on-crime sentencing law, South Dakota is scrambling to deal with the price tag for that legislation: Housing thousands of additional inmates could require up to $2-billion to build new prisons in the next decade. That's a lot of money for a state with one of the lowest populations in the U.S., but a consultant said it's needed to keep pace with an anticipated 34% surge of new inmates in the next decade as a results of South Dakota's tough criminal justice laws. And while officials are grumbling about the cost, they don't seem concerned with the laws that are driving the need even as national crime rates are dropping. For now, state lawmakers have set aside a $600-million fund to replace the overcrowded 144-year-old South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, making it one of the most expensive taxpayer-funded projects in South Dakota history. (The Associated Press)
 

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JUNE 9

Developer Behind Texa-Tonka Revival Buys Golden Valley Shopping Center
Landscaping  |  Lighting  |  Renovation
Paster Properties has acquired the aging Golden Valley Shopping Center along Highway 55, with plans to transform it in a similar way to its past overhaul of St. Louis Park's Texa-Tonka Shopping Center. The developer purchased the downtown Golden alley strip mall site for $17.5-million. The company plans to renovate the center with cosmetic upgrades, like new lighting and landscaping. The 8.8-acre property, located at 7900 Olson Memorial Highway, contains four buildings --- the main strip mall building, a newer retail structure on the southeast corner, a round building that previously housed a Midwest Federal Savings and Loan branch and is now occupied by Lighting Outlet Center, and another building containing the All Strings Attached music store. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Development Pace Lags at Highland Bridge
Affordable Housing  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Private School
Five years out from the start of construction, the Highland Bridge mixed-use development in St. Paul has added more than 1,000 new affordable and market-rate housing units to the city's housing stock. But the pace of residential construction at Highland Bridge --- a redevelopment of the 122-acre former Ford Motor Co. plant in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood --- has been slow in the last few years. At one point, the development was projected to create up to 3,800 new housing units. Master developer Ryan Cos. US Inc. says the current estimate of about 3,100 is within the range of what was projected. On the positive side, some signs of life are emerging. Last week, Ryan Cos. and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of St. Paul celebrated the groundbreaking of another mixed-use project at Highland Bridge. The project will feature five buildings, including a 97-unit apartment structure with 8,500-square-feet of ground-floor retail. Also included are three standalone retail buildings totaling 14,000-sqaure-feet, a 13,000-square-foot daycare, and a two-level parking ramp. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Why Developers Have Stopped Building Apartments
Development Outlook - Multi-Family
The economics of building apartments in the Twin Cities doesn't work, and it could be a long time before it does. The metro area is already undersupplied on housing. A staggering decline in multi-family building could drive up prices in the years to come. After peaking at 15,500 in 2022, permits issued to begin apartment construction in the metro fell to 5,000 last year and are on an even slower pace this year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sherman Associates has been one of the most prolific local developers in recent years, building hundreds of units in Minneapolis and beyond. The company doesn't have a single project under construction right now, and as CEO Chris Sherman told Axios, his Minneapolis firm can't make it work without public subsidies. While there can be some outliers, the typical cost to build a mid-rise apartment building (think four- to five-stories) has reached $320,000 to $340,000 a unit, Sherman said. (Axios Twin Cities)
 

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JUNE 10

Danfoss, Eden Prairie Clash Over Prime Redevelopment Site
Industrial  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family
Danfoss Energy Solutions and the city of Eden Prairie are sparring over the future of a 57-acre property owned by the company in the heart of town. At issue are the goals of the property owner versus the long-term vision of the city. Danfoss recently announced that is plans to sell the property for redevelopment. For its part, the city is looking to re-guide the site --- which is just north of Technology Drive and west of Mitchell Road --- to allow for a mix of uses, including residential development. But Danfoss, which announced plans in January to close its Eden Prairie plant by the end of the year, is pushing back against the plans to re-guide the property. The planning commission recommended approval of a proposal to re-guide the property from "Industrial Flex" and "Office" to "Mixed-Use." The proposed re-guidance requires a comprehensive plan amendment. The property is occupied in part by a 103,400-square-foot office building and a 293,500-sqiare-foot manufacturing building. The city is not requiring any of the buildings to be removed as part of a future redevelopment. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Doran Group Plans Luxury 55+ Rentals in Hudson, Wisc
Athletic Facility  |  Community & Assisted Living  |  Landscaping  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
The Doran Group is planning a 128-unit apartment complex in Hudson, Wisconsin, aimed at the fast-growing population of active, older adults. The as-yet-unnamed building, planned for Hudson's Carmichael Ridge neighborhood at the former site of Hudson Golf Club, will be the city's first luxury rental community aimed at residents 55 and older, according to the project's concept development plan. The three-story structure --- with a partial fourth-floor on one side --- will consist of 218,473-square-feet of space, including community amenities. Units, which will range from 750- to 1,400-square-feet in size, break down like this, according to the plan: 48 one-bedroom layouts; 7 one-bedroom plus den layouts; 59 two-bedroom layouts; and 14 two-bedroom plus den layouts. Planned amenities include a club room, gold simulator, group fitness area, a sauna and pet spa. There are also plans for a landscaped plaza with native grasses and flowers, walking paths, a dog park, a fire pit, grill stations, and a putting green. The building will also include 218 parking stalls, divided into 128 garage stalls and 90 surface parking spaces. The Doran Group expects to receive final approval from the city of Hudson for the project in late summer or early fall; then, groundbreaking can occur in late Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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JUNE 11

Architecture Billings Decline as Tariff Uncertainty Weighs on Industry
Industry Report - Architecture Billings Index
Reported architecture-firm billings activity in recent months has slipped, owing in part to continued uncertainty around tariffs and U.S. economic policy. That's according to the latest American Institute of Architects / Deltek Architecture Billings Index, which declined to 42.2 for the month of April. Although the recent decline may be attributed to rapidly changing federal trade policy since the start of the year, billings have declined for 28 pf the past 31 months, according to the index. New project inquiries also decreased for the third month in a row in April, and the value of new design contracts has declined at the majority of firms for 14 consecutive months, according to the AIA. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Burnsville Landfill Site Draws New Plan for $45M Sports Complex
Athletic Facility  |  Parks & Open Spaces  |  Playground  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Restaurant  |  Trails
Plans to transform a Burnsville landfill into a sports complex with golf and pickleball have been revamped and will eb sent to the city next week. The Freeway Dump, located just northeast of Interstate-35W and Cliff Road, hasn't been active as a landfill since the 1960s and local officials have sought ways to clean up and redevelop the site for decades. Last year, developers announced a plan for the site that included a year-round destination entertainment complex with a restaurant, event space, and a Top Golf-like concept from Fargo, North Dakota, called Suite Shots. The new idea, called Big Hits at the Gateway, expands the idea well beyond golf. Plans now include a state of the art, 100-bar, three-level golf driving range; 17 pickleball courts (9 indoor and 8 outdoor) with flexibility for the emerging sports Futsal and Ecuavolley (variants of soccer and volleyball, respectively), with one pickleball court having stadium seating for up to 250 viewers to attract national pickleball tournaments; a conference and event center with space for up to 400 guests; a children's playground adjacent to the outdoor courts; nearly 10-acres of pollinator prairie park with native grasses, bee, and butterfly habitats; nearly a mile of bike and hiking trails that connect to Black Dog Trail; 4 golf simulator with the capability for other sports like fast-pitch softball; and a full-service restaurant and bar. The team will submit its plans to the city on June 16th. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Developers Pitch New Vision for Burnsville Dump Site
Athletic Facility  |  Recreation & Entertainment
A local development team hopes to begin construction as soon as next year on a multi-sport entertainment complex in Burnsville --- a golf and pickleball-oriented facility that would rise on a former landfill site in Burnsville. Developers of the $40-million to $45-million project, including landowner Michael McGowan, vow to bring new life to the 30-acre brownfield site, which was previously a dumping ground and had long been a candidate for a higher-and-better use. A driving range currently occupies the site, known as the Freeway Dump, which is near Interstate 35W and Cliff Road. But before the developers can begin construction, a skeptical Minnesota Pollution Control Agency needs to sign off on the plans. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Doran Group Plans 128-Unit Senior Housing in Hudson
Athletic Facility  |  Community & Assisted Living  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
The Doran Group pitched an active-adult apartment building on the site of a former golf course to the Hudson Plan Commission last week, according to planning documents. The project received a unanimous recommendation of approval for its concept development plans and a request for the City Council to schedule a more detailed public hearing by the Plan Commission. The project would bring the density of the project up to 14.7-units per acre, with its 128-units spread across four-stories. Doran proposed the project with a unit mix of 48 one-bedroom units, 7 one-bedroom with a den, 59 two-bedrooms, and 14 two-bedrooms with a den. It will have both 128 stalls of underground parking and 90 outdoor parking stalls. The project would come with outdoor amenities like a pool, a dog park, grill stations, a fire pit and a putting green. Indoor amenities include a fitness center, a library and a lounge, a craft room, and a golf simulator. (Finance & Commerce)
 

United Properties Plans Industrial, Housing at 57-Acre Danfoss Site, But Faces City Hurdle
Commercial & Retail  |  Community & Assisted Living  |  Industrial  |  Multi-Family
Danfoss plans to sell its 57-acre campus in Eden Prairie to a developer. However, its vision for the property is at odds with the city's wishes. United Properties is listed on a redevelopment concept plan submitted for the site to the city. Sources who declined to be named to protect business relationships also asked United Properties was selected as the buyer by Danfoss. The developer seeks to reuse an existing large industrial building, construct a 130,000-square-foot industrial building on the north portion of the site, and add residential uses to the south, such as senior housing and a multi-family building with ground-floor retail, according to a city Planning Commission meeting held June 9th and the concept plan. While the city wants to see a mix of uses, it doesn't want any more industrial built on the site, according to city planners. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Warehouse, Hotel Construction Lift Commercial Planning
Economic Reports - Dodge Construction Network  |  Dodge Momentum Index  |  Nonresidential Construction Planning
Nonresidential construction planning rebounded in May after a slow April, as a sharp uptick in institutional project activity helped drive overall growth, according to a Dodge Construction Network. The Dodge Momentum Index increased 3.7% in May. Institutional planning surged 10.5%, led by education and recreational facilities, while commercial planning inched up 0.8%, according to the report. Data center planning, which field most commercial gains, returned to more typical levels in May. Within the commercial sector, stronger activity in warehouse and hotel planning helped offset the slow pace in the office and retail categories, according to the report. (Construction Dive)
 

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JUNE 13

Community Dental Care transforms 3M Office into Big Maplewood Clinic
Under Construction - Office to Healthcare Facility Conversion
Community Dental Care, a nonprofit dental provider, plans to convert a former 3M Co. office building in Maplewood into a clinic that could serve many more patients a year. Community Dental Care paid $2.45-million for the 32,175-square-foot facility at 600 Carlton Street last year, according to a certificate of real estate value filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, with plans to open doors to patients July 9th. Community Dental Care partners with Sjoquist Architects and Karkela Construction to overhaul the space. They demolished the existing interior in December 2024 and started construction in January 2025. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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JUNE 16

Developer Celebrates Groundbreaking for 31-Story Mass Timber Apartment Tower in Downtown Milwaukee
Under Construction - Mass Timber Building  |  Milwaukee, Wisconsin
After years of work on planning and financing, real estate development firm Neutral held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 16th to celebrate the start of construction of what will become the tallest mass timber building in the Western Hemisphere. The 31-story project, dubbed Neutral Edison, will rise at 1005 North Edison Street, along the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, with completion expected in 2027. Once finished, the high-rise will stand as a new entry into the city's luxury residential market, and an example of sustainable urban development. The project is pursuing aggressive environmental standards, including Passive House certification and Living Building Challenge 4.0 Core Certification. (BizTimes - Milwaukee Business Times)
 

Developers Propose 148 Townhomes, 123-Unit Apartment Complex for Growing Lake Elmo Community
Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
Two Minnesota developers want to expand Lake Elmo's Inwood neighborhood with dozens of townhomes and a new apartment building. M/I Homes of Minneapolis / St. Paul, a division of Ohio-based M/I Homes, plans to construct 148 attached townhomes between Fifth Street North and Eagle Point Boulevard. And M/I Homes has tapped Rachel Development to construct a three-story, 123-unit apartment complex just west of Island Trail. Sixty-eight of the apartments will be one-bedroom layouts, and 55 will have two or more bedrooms. Group Architects and Vincent Cos. are working on the yet-unnamed apartment building, according to project documents submitted to the city of Lake Elmo. Plans for the building include dog park and an outdoor courtyard, as well as a front patio. The apartment project would also include 221 parking stalls, with 123 of them underground and 98 surface stalls. Construction could begin this year, if the proposal is approved. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Enclave Helmo Station to Start Work Soon on 370 Homes
Multi-Family  |  Parks & Open Spaces
A development that will bring hundreds of new housing units to Oakdale is on the cusp of construction. Enclave Cos., the developer, wants to build 112-unit rental townhomes, a 262-unit multi-family apartment building, and a 2.83-acre public park on properties at 7600, 7750, 7700, 7655, and 7701 Third Street North. The project site is at the southeast quadrant of Helmo Avenue and Fourth Street. The city council signed off on a development agreement and other approvals for the project, known as Enclave Helmo Station. The final plat and a highway noise variance won council approval in May. Enclave will begin construction on the market-rate multi-family portion of the project in August. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Maplewood Approves Scaled-Down Assisted Living Project
Community & Assisted Living  |  Healthcare
An assisted living project first proposed five years ago has a green light from the Maplewood City Council, but the development is moving forward with less than half as many units as originally expected. Frisbie Cos. hopes to start construction later this year on the project, which will bring 32 assisted living units to part of a vacant, 9-acre site at 2615 Maplewood Drive. The Maplewood City Council approved a conditional use permit and design review for the one-story building. City documents reveal that the "adjustment" to 32-units from 72-units is "primarily due to current construction costs, limited financing options for apartment complexes, and existing market conditions." Ebenezer Care will operate the facility, which will offer 6 one-bedroom and 26 studio units. According to city documents, the one-bedroom units will range in size from 525- to 526-square-feet, and the studios will have either "325- or 415-square-feet." Planned amenities include a commercial kitchen, dining room, living room, sunroom, laundry facilities, a spa room, a beauty salon, nursing offices, a director's office, a staff break room, a library / family room, activity spaces, and indoor and outdoor patios. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Robotics Maker to Build $180M Campus in Wisconsin
Facility  |  Manufacturing
Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and officials from international robotics maker Yaskawa American announced the company will consolidate its facilities in Wisconsin and Waukegan, Illinois, into one $180-million facility in Franklin. The new campus will be 800,000-square-feet with a headquarters, training and lab building, manufacturing and packing facilities and robotics and semiconductor production operations, the governor's office said. The new facility will also create 700 jobs, officials said. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 17

Endeavor to Build industrial Site in Mendota Heights
Industrial  |  Utilities
Endeavor Development hopes to begin construction next month on a new 175,000-square-foot industrial building in Mendota Heights, a project that will expand the developer's already significant presence in the area. Known as Cobalt Business Center, the project will redevelop a vacant office building at 1315 Mendota Heights Road into "an industrial asset." A city staff report reveals that the city of Mendota Heights received a petition for vacating drainage and utility easements on the redevelopment site, which is known as "Lot 6 & 7, Block 1, Mendota Heights Industrial Park." The proposed site layout for the project relocates an existing pond to an adjacent area onsite, a "reconfigured" pond will be located, according to the staff report. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 18

Cottage Grove Seeks Developer for New Hotel, Offers Discounted Land to Spur Construction
In Development - Hotel
Cottage Grove officials say their community needs another hotel to meet high local demand for lodging, so they plan to offer a developer discounted land to build one. According to its request for proposals, the city intends to buy a 3.59-acre property at 9430 East Point Douglas Road, next to Highway 61 and near a Walmart Supercenter. It is also next to the Shoppes at Cottage View site, a proposed 73-acre commercial development. The city is proposing a 90-room, midscale to upper midscale national brand hotel for the site. Consultants from Bolton & Menk have created a conceptual layout for the hotel, which is three-stories and 190,000-square-feet. It has 140 parking spaces. The city wants the hotel to offer basic amenities, such as a complimentary hot breakfast for guests, a fitness room, an indoor pool, and a guest laundry room. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Kraus-Anderson Begins New Fire Station in Otsego
Under Construction - Municipal
Kraus-Anderson has begun construction on a new $18.4-million fire and emergency service station, which "marks a major milestone in the development of the city's newly formed Fire & Emergency Services Department" at 14499 75th Street Northeast in Otsego, according to a press release. Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, the two-story, 35,000-square-foot station will begin operation on January 1, 2027. The station will include six large apparatus bays for fire engines, a dedicated gear decontamination area, a storm shelter, a hose / training tower, and training mezzanine to support ongoing firefighter development. Also included are bunk rooms, quiet rooms, laundry and gear storage, a full kitchen and dayroom, separate kitchenette, fitness center, conference rooms, offices, and remote workspaces. (Finance & Commerce)
 

May Architecture Billings Index Reports "Modest Degree of Stabilization"
Industry News - Architecture Billings Index
In its May Architecture Billings Index (AIA), the AIA shared that billings have "remained in negative territory" with a score of 47.2, up from 43.2 in April. There is reason for hope, however: For the first time since January, inquiries into new work increased, AIA shared. This suggests a "modest degree of stabilization" in the economy, AIA continued. Still, the value of signed design contracts continues to decline. "Business conditions remained sluggish nationwide in May, with nonresidential construction activity continuing to decline in several major metro areas," said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker. (The Architect's Newspaper)
 

Orchard Path Expansion Begins in Apple Valley
Under Construction - Community & Assisted Living  |  Healthcare
Presbyterian Homes & Services and its project partners recently broke ground on an expansion that will add 75 new independent-living apartments, a new community room and an outdoor patio to Orchard Path, a PHS senior living community in Apple Valley. Located at 5400 157th Street West in Apple Valley, Orchard Path currently includes 175 independent-living apartments, 58 assisted-living apartments, and 20 memory-care apartments. Construction project "partners" include Fendler Patterson Construction, Pope Design Group, Piper Sandler, the city of Apple Valley, Dakota County, and Senior Housing Partners, which is the development arm of PHS, according to the press release. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Otsego Waterfront Development Moves Forward After Delay
Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
An ambitious mixed-used development on a riverfront site in Otsego is moving forward after a big setback last summer. The project's developer, Jesse Hartun of Modern Construction of Minnesota, envisions the Otsego Waterfront project as an amenity-laden local and regional destination. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the new building will rise on a 13.8-acre site at Highway 101 and 90th Street. Earlier this month, the Otsego City Council approved plans for the project, which includes a six-story building with 135 multi-family housing units, 10,275-square-feet of "retail and service" commercial space, and an at-grade garage with 121 parking spaces, along with surface parking. Approvals included a planned unit development stage plan, preliminary plat, and vacation of existing drainage and utilities. The project team include Modern Construction of Minnesota (developer), Bauer Design Build (general contractor), and Momentum Design Group (design). (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 19

EPA Moves to Repeal Power Plant Climate Regulations
Environmental Protections
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed last week repealing rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas, an action that Administrator Lee Zeldin said would remove billions of dollars in costs for industry and help "unleash" American energy. The EPA also proposed weakening a regulation that requires power plans to reduce emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants that can harm the brain development of young children and contribute to heart attacks and other health problems in adults. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Harassment Still Plagues Women in Minnesota Construction
Women in Construction
The first time Laura Larson, a concrete finisher, was sexually harassed on a construction site in Minnesota was in the summer of 2021. At the time, she recalls, a foreman and a finisher on the site refused to train her and subjected her to verbal abuse laced with sexually inappropriate language. The male foreman and finisher "frequently told the trade superintendent that women are 'worthless [expletives]' and they did not want to waste their time training me," Larson alleged in a recent lawsuit, which has since been settled. Larson said the finisher was terminated after the incident, but the foreman kept his job. Three years later, in June 2024, Larson alleges she was harassed again by the same foreman. Larson matter-of-factly states that those are just a couple of examples of sexual harassment she endured in her four years with the company, a prominent general contractor in town. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 20

Canada Threatens Further Tariffs on US Steel, Aluminum
Industry News - Aluminum  |  Tariffs  |  Steel
Canada may soon raise tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports if the two countries are unable to reach an agreement pertaining to the Trump administration's trade policies in the next month. The new tariffs from Canada are slated to begin July 21st, a little less than two after a 90-day pause on country-specific reciprocal tariffs from the U.S. is set to expire. Canada would impose the tariffs "to levels consistent with progress that has been made in the broader trading arrangement with the United States," per a July 19th press release. Furthermore, beginning July 30th, Canada will limit federal procurement of steel and aluminum to suppliers from the country. (Supply Chain Dive)
 

Construction Starts Improved 13% in May
Industry News - Nonbuilding, Nonresidential & Residential Starts
Total construction starts were up 13% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.16-trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts improved by 18%, residential starts rose 2%, and nonbuilding starts grew 20% over the month. Commercial starts were 28% higher in May, alongside stronger retail, office and warehouse starts. Institutional starts grew 19% last month following stronger healthcare starts. Manufacturing starts fell back 13% in May. On a year-to-date basis, nonresidential starts are down 6% compared to May 2024. Commercial starts are up 6% and institutional starts are down 2% over the same period. (Dodge Construction Network)
 

Lumber Exchange in Minneapolis For Sale with Potential for Apartment Conversion
Development Outlook - Historic Preservation  |  Office to Residential Conversion
The Lumber Exchange building, which has been marketed as Minneapolis' first skyscraper, is for sale. Its buyer will have some decisions to make. The roughly 226,000-square-foot office building at 10 South Fifth Street was listed for sale last week. The building is oriented toward office but is eligible for federal and state historic tax credits that could make it a strong candidate for multi-family residential conversion. Whatever a buyer decides to do, JLL said the building has been well-kept. It has strong bones and a cool historic character. Varde Partners owns the building, and it's managed by Hempel Real Estate. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Presbyterian Homes Breaks Ground on 75-Unit Expansion at Apple Valley Senior Living Community
Community & Assisted Living  |  Healthcare  |  Parking Structure
Presbyterian Homes & Services has broken ground on a 75-unit expansion of its Orchard Path senior living community in Apple Valley. Orchard Path, which is located next to Cobblestone Lake at 5400 157th Street West, currently includes 175 independent living apartments,. 58 assisted living apartments, and 20 memory care apartments on its 12.28-acre property, according to project documents. The four-story addition will be south of the existing facility, toward Cobblestone Lake Parkway South. It will bring the community's total units to 328. Plans for the addition say tat units will range in size from 750- to 1,500-square-feet;each will include a balcony or patio. The addition will be 141,000-square-feet in total. The expansion's amenities will include a 3,399-square-foot community room, a pet spa and fitness spaces. Outdoor spaces will include a patio with grilling stations and a shade garden. The addition will add 48 surface parking spaces and 75 underground parking spaces. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Supporters Defend Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program
Legal Matters - Minority-Owned Business  |  Supplier Diversity Programs  |  Women-Owned Contractors
A Wisconsin state senator and an association for minority contractors spoke in defense of the state's supplier diversity program after a legal group filed a civil rights complaint to the U.S. Attorney General. In February, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Contractors for Equal Opportunity filed the complain under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and demanded an investigation of the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Supplier Diversity Program. The groups alleged the state government is discriminating against small businesses based on race. WILL also requested a case against a minority and women-owned business enterprise program in New York. Critics of the diversity programs said they were anti-competitive and drove up costs for taxpayers. The complaints followed the Trump administration's executive orders to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs in federal agencies, companies, and institutions. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Building Buzz: From Tariffs to Transmission Lines

Welcome back to Building Buzz, where we round up the headlines making waves in Minnesota's commercial construction world.

From billion-dollar data centers in Iowa to an ambitious 400-home redevelopment plan in Columbia Heights, the first week of June didn’t skimp on bold announcements. We’re talking new manufacturing facilities, major apartment projects, and infrastructure updates that could shift how the Midwest builds, connects, and powers up.

Plus, ongoing tariff shakeups and permitting reforms are rippling through supply chains, with both immediate and long-term effects.

Whether you’re watching steel prices or scouting your next project site, there’s a lot to dig into this week. Let’s break ground on the latest.
 

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MAY 29

JBS USA to Invest $135M in New Sausage Plant in Perry, Iowa
Facility | Industrial
JBS USA announced May 29th that it will invest $135-million to construct a state-of-the-art production facility in Perry, Iowa. Pending local approval, the JBS facility is scheduled to break ground in late 2025 and begin operations in late 2026. The company said in a statement that the plant will produce 130-million-pounds of sausage annually and process 500,000 sows each year, enough to feed roughly four-million people nationwide. (ConstructConnect)
 

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MAY 30

Google to Invest Another $7B in Iowa in Next Two Years
Data Centers
Google will invest an additional $7-billion across Iowa in the next two years, primarily to expand data centers in Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs, Google officials confirmed at an investment announcement at the Google Cedar Rapids site on May 30th. A Google spokesperson declined to further specify the new Cedar Rapids project estimate, or how the $7-billion investment will be distributed across the state, but company officials said during the event that the investment will help expand the company's cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. (Corridor Business Journal)
 

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JUNE 2

Construction Supply Chains See Modest Impact From Tariffs
Industry News - Tariffs  |  Supply Chains
Nonresidential Construction costs have modestly increased across the nation, while the supply chain is feeling the ripple effects of global trade policy and evolving tariffs from Washington. That's according to the latest Mortenson Construction Cost Index, which tracked costs, employment and material prices throughout the first quarter of 2025. Labor and material availability have been steady throughout the first months of the year but stop-and-go tariff measures have created uncertainty for construction and developers alike. Most markets adjusted by improving their sourcing and shedding constraints, but researchers said they expected cost volatility in certain market categories. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Thicket Hill Vineyard to Bring 120-Acre Winery & Event Center to Dayton
Recreation & Entertainment | Restaurant
The Bernens will build a 14,000-square-foot event center building atop a bluff that will include a 6,500-square-foot ballroom event space, a wine tasting area, patios and more. They hope to open the event center in June 2026. They'll start serving wine then, but they are currently growing 10-acres worth of vines that should be ready to serve as wine by Fall 2026. It would be one of the closest vineyard-wedding venues to downtown Minneapolis. A plethora of hotels and restaurants are nearby, especially in Maple Grove and Rogers, and the whole corridor is "booming" with activity. The Bernens also hope to get a full liquor license and have themed event nights. The venue would also be open to corporate or private events. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Trump's Spike in Steel Tariffs to Have Damaging Ripple Effects
Industry News - Tariffs
President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could hit Americans in an unexpected place: grocery aisles. The announcement on May 30th of a staggering 50% levy on those imports stoked fear that big-ticket purchases from cars to washing machines to house could see major price increases. But those metals are so ubiquitous in packaging, they're likely to pack a punch across consumer products from soup to nuts. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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JUNE 3

60-Unit Affordable Apartment Planned in North Minneapolis
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family
The project team --- which includes Premier Development Corp. and a subsidiary of Preservation Housing Trust of Minnesota --- plans to demolish the vacant church at Washburn and Lowry Avenues North to make way for a new six-story, 60-unit affordable apartment building. A city staff report reveals that the building will offer apartments for households at or below 30% to 50% of the area's median income. The proposed units range in size from one- to four-bedrooms, according to the project narrative. The building will include amenities such as co-working spaces, a fitness center, a community room, an outdoor children's play area, and outdoor gardening space. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Minnesota Power Unveils Their New Transmission Line Project
Substation  |  Transmission Lines
Minnesota Power is showing off plans for their Iron Range-St. Louis County-Arrowhead Transmission Line project. It's a 63-mile, 345-kilo-volt transmission line that will run from Grand Rapids to the St. Louis County substation near Hermantown. Minnesota Power says it will help make the power grid more reliable and efficient. It's part of Minnesota Power's plan to establish a route and eventually submit a certificate of need to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. This new transmission line will also enhance regional transfer capability and grid reliability in the Upper Midwest. (WDIO News)
 

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JUNE 4

400-Plus Homes Planned at Former Medtronic Site
Affordable Housing  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Public Infrastructure
A redevelopment that would bring more than 400 new housing units and other fresh uses to the former Medtronic campus in Columbia Heights is advancing after a positive review from the city's planning commission. Kaas Wilson Architects, on behalf of Lincoln Avenue Communities, is pitching a plan to develop the vacant, 12-acre campus with two six-story, 132-unit affordable multi-family buildings, and 150 to 175 market-rate apartments. Located at 800 53rd Avenue next to Sullivan Lake, the campus would also accommodate 58 townhomes, commercial space, and "associated park and infrastructure improvements as well as multi-modal transportation facilities," according to a city staff report. The Columbia Heights Planning Commission recommended approval of a preliminary plat, rezoning to planned unit development and other requests related to the multi-phase development. City documents reveal that the project would created 268 multi-family units in the first two phases. Up next would be 58 townhomes in the third phase and 150 to 175 market-rate units in the final round of construction, which also includes 12,000-square-feet of speculative commercial space. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Oakdale Apartments 'The Harlan' Fully Leased; Developer Will Add Second Building
Athletic Facility  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family
The developer of The Harlan, a luxury apartment complex in Oakdale, plans to begin work soon on a sister property after the initial building leased all its units just months after its debut. Avic Development built The Harlan, which opened last November at 7570 32nd Street North. Level 10 Property Management said that the 156-unit property is now at 100% occupancy. The building includes a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts, with amenities like a fitness studio, work-from-home suites, and an outdoor dog run. The company hopes to repeat its success with a second phase --- an as-yet-unnamed building with around 160-units. The new four-story building, located across Marketplace North from The Harlan, could include amenities such as a swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub, as well as a speakeasy room and a fourth-floor sky lounge with an outdoor patio. The new development will include a separate retail building as well. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

St. Paul's Highland Bridge Project Advances with New Retail, Apartments Following Developer-City Accord
Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
St. Paul leaders and Ryan Cos. US Inc. formally began construction on a new $68-million phase of Highland Bridge, the giant redevelopment of the city\'s former Ford plant site. The Pioneer Press has a report on the milestone, which will deliver retail space, apartments, and other properties. It also ends a long stalemate between city officials and the developer over issues like rent control and density. The construction will include four buildings: a 97-unit mixed-use apartment building, a parking ramp, and several single-story retail buildings. A Tierra Encantada day care center is already lined up for one of the retail properties. Including space in the apartment building, the phase will include 35,000-square-feet of retail. Except for a Lunds & Byerlys store and a medical office building, most of the development so far at Highland Bridge has been residential. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

University of Minnesota Foundation, Mortenson Plan 10-Story Innovation Building Near Campus
Commercial & Retail  |  Facility  |  Office  |  Restaurant
The team behind a project to develop 12-acres on the eastern edge of the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus will seek city feedback this week to move forward with the first building as part of the larger vision. University of Minnesota Foundation Real Estate Advisors (UMFREA), in partnership with Mortenson Co., has submitted plans for the first piece of vertical construction on the overall development, called the Minnesota Innovation Exchange, or The Mix, formerly known as East Gateway. Those first plans are for a 10-story office building with ground-level commercial space. The first flow would have 18,500-square-feet of retail space, including a 5,000-square-foot corner area for a restaurant, according to the submitted plans. Levels above that would have office or lab space. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

White House Unveils Plan for Tech-Focused Permit Reforms
Industry News - Environmental Review  |  Federal Infrastructure Projects
The Council on Environmental Quality has issued its Permitting Technology Action Plan, which seeks to modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for a plethora of infrastructure projects, according to a May 30th press release from the White House. The plan fulfills an April 15th memorandum signed by President Donald Trump that directs agencies to make maximum use of technology in federal environmental reviews and permitting processes, according to the CEQ's Permitting Innovation Center website. Its goal with the new plan is to speed up the permitting process, saying in the release, that the CEQ will build tools to allow federal agencies "to accelerate their environmental review and permitting processes --- with results in weeks or months, not years." (Construction Dive)
 

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JUNE 5

A UAE Aluminum Giant Could Bring the US its First New Aluminum Plant Since 1980
Industry News - Aluminum  |  Metal Production
Emirates Global Aluminum, one of the world's largest aluminum producers, is moving forward with plans to invest $4-billion to develop a primary production plan in Inola, Oklahoma. The project, expected to be operational by the end of 2026, will have the capacity to produce 600,000-tons of primary aluminum and create 1,000 jobs, according to a memorandum of understanding between EGA and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. The production site, also known as a smelter, will be the largest of its kind in the U.S. once completed and nearly double the nation's metal-producing capacity, according to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. (Manufacturing Dive)
 

Milwaukee Apartments Reopening After TCE Concerns
Affordable Housing  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Recreation & Entertainment
Part of an adaptive reuse, affordable housing apartment complex will reopen after being evacuated two years ago over chemical concerns. In 2023, city health officials ordered 150 residents to evacuate the east block of the Community at the Corridor, a low-income housing development separated by 32nd Street just north of Center Street in Milwaukee, when acute levels of the chemical trichloroethylene were found in the soil and groundwater. In May, the Milwaukee Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources concluded there was no longer an acute health hazard at the property for TCE levels. Since Scott Crawford Inc. started construction work from "day one" to bring the building, a former Briggs & Stratton factory, back to occupancy, they now want to lease out 130-units in the east block. The Community at the Corridor will offer a range of u nits and amenities, including underground parking and a recreational space. (Finance & Commerce)
 

New Law Creates Economic Development Flexibility for Ramsey County
Economic Development
Bipartisan legislation signed into law this spring allows Ramsey County to establish an economic development authority, a move that's expected to take the county's business support initiatives to the next level. The legislation doesn't provide new funding, but it will enable Ramsey County's Housing and Redevelopment Authority to support a wider range of community initiatives, including small business support, county officials said. Previously, Ramsey County's HRA was able to fund only "housing-related projects." The establishment of an EDA will allow for "deeper investments in small business support, commercial corridors, workforce infrastructure, and the stability of the neighborhoods we [Ramsey County] serves." (Finance & Commerce)
 

New Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Will Push Construction Costs Higher
Industry News - Aluminum  |  Construction Costs  |  Steel  |  Tariffs
New tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum will raise construction costs further, adding to price spikes triggered by an initial 25% tariff on the materials earlier this year, according to a June 3rd industry webinar hosted by Skanska USA. President Donald Trump increased steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50% on June 4th, doubling down on a strategy that has reshaped construction supply chains since his administration took over. Only the United Kingdom is exempt from the hike until July 9th, per the U.S.-U.K. Economic Prosperity Deal. The move will inflate material costs across a range of commercial building materials, at a time when many projects stand on shaky financial ground, according to panelists. (Construction Dive)
 

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JUNE 6

Milwaukee Suburb OKs $100M Apartment Complex at Former Mall Site
Athletic Facility  |  Demolition  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Street & Sidewalk Improvements
In the first step toward construction, plans to replace the former Boston Store at Southridge Mall in Greendale with a multi-phase, mixed-use apartment complex gained early approval. The village of Greendale Plan Commission unanimously approved a general development plan to raze the store and build four buildings in multiple phases at 5300 South 76th Street, which is on the west side of the Southridge Mall. The development plan will go to the Village Board on June 17. Depending on approvals, construction could start in late 2025, the project architect said. The master plan includes 1,137,000-square-feet of building space with new roads and a green space in the center of the development, plans showed. The project will feature 739-units and will aim to create a "pedestrian oriented, mixed-use extension of the village," architects said. Project amenities include a pool, fitness center, club lounge, dog spa, golf simulator, package room and co-working space, officials said. KTGY shared master plan details on the $100-million development, which is expected to be completed in eight years as the developer builds based on demand. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Building Buzz: Hard Hats, Hot Headlines

Welcome to this week’s Building Buzz, where Minnesota’s construction scene is anything but quiet.

From new groundbreakings to project pivots, there’s plenty shaking up our skyline. White Bear Township is gearing up for Nextera Packaging’s new 100,000-square-foot HQ, while St. Louis Park’s Beltline Station project prepares to bring nearly 400 housing units to a transit-connected site. Meanwhile, Amazon is hitting pause in Becker, but momentum in Oakdale, Vadnais Heights, and Richfield continues to grow with housing projects spanning every income level.

Big headlines also include a Supreme Court ruling that could fast-track infrastructure developments nationwide  —  and LS Black Constructors announces a leadership change as it looks to the future.

Whether it’s adaptive reuse, affordable housing, or industrial expansions, it’s clear that progress is pushing forward. Let’s dive in.
 

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MAY 23

Affordable Family Housing Planned for Penn Ave. in Richfield
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Playground
JO Companies will go before the Richfield Planning Commission for approval of a preliminary plat and final plat for a 42-unit apartment development on the Penn Avenue corridor, according to planning documents. The property is at 6501 Penn Avenue South and would target low-income families as tenants, according to the documents, with rents affordable for those making between 30% and 60% of the area median income. The building would feature a spread of one- to four-bedroom units, according to the planning documents. The property would have "all the bells and whistles" like balconies, a business room, a fitness center, underground parking, and even features an indoor "tot-lot" playground. There will an enclosed parking garage and an exterior parking lot for a total of 46 parking stalls. The goal is to move dirt before it gets too cold and position the project to be wrapped up by Fall 2026. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Amazon Pulls Back on Becker Data Center Plan
Project Update  |  Data Center
On May 22, Amazon said it would suspend efforts to build a major data center --- a project once pegged to cost at least $1-billion --- at least for now. The company had purchased nearly 350-acres of land at the Becker site last fall. A public filing at the time noted that the company planned a data center and substation on the land. The Star Tribune has a report on the decision by Amazon, noting that it comes after moves at the Minnesota Legislature to scrap a sales-tax exemption on electricity for data centers, though data centers would still get sales tax exemptions on computers and other equipment. Amazon didn't specifically point to the change as a reason for its decision, though the company noted that "overall economics" play a role in picking data center sites. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Developers Eye Graco's Sprawling Mississippi Riverfront Property as Company Plans Relocation
Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family  |  Redevelopment
Graco, a manufacturer of fluid-handling systems and one of the largest public companies in Minnesota, announced plans to put up for sales its nearly 40-acre northeast Minneapolis headquarters, which spans nearly a half-mile stretch of the Mississippi riverfront. Its future use presents a major opportunity to redefine the neighborhood. All of the buildings on the campus, controlling more than 660,000-square-feet, will eventually be sold. The company's process of exiting the campus could take two years as it seeks to build a new headquarters in either Rogers or Dayton. The property represents a prime redevelopment opportunity. The campus spans the equivalent of several city blocks and has roads already running through it, making it well-positioned for a multi-phased development with several different uses, real estate experts say. A multi-family use would likely drive a new development project, but there would be opportunity to seek other uses for some of the other parcels on the campus for another commercial use. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Nextera Packaging HQ to Break Ground in White Bear Township
Breaking Ground  |  Facility  |  Industrial
A new 100,000-square-foot building for Nextera Packaging --- a company that started in a Roseville garage --- is coming to White Bear Township. Endeavor Development plans to begin construction next week on the build-to-suit corporate headquarters for the company, which helps food processors buy packaging "designed for their food, optimized for their operations, and built to scale," the developer said. The project is part of a multi-phase development that will eventually bring four buildings with a combined 400,000-square-feet of industrial space to the township. Endeavor was scheduled to present plans for the second building, which would also be about 100,000-square-feet, at May 22nd's White Bear Township Planning Commission meeting. Located at 5300 Centerville Road in White Bear Township, the new custom-designed building for Nextera will support the company's "continued growth and operational expansion in the region" when it opens in Spring 2026, according to Endeavor. The White Bear Township Board approved a final plat for the project, clearing the way for construction. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 26

Oakdale Development Fueled by Housing, Transit-Oriented Growth
Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Parks & Open Spaces
Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, two high-profile multi-family projects remain on track to begin construction in Oakdale later this year, their developers say. Together, they could bring about 500-units to a largely built-out city that recorded 28,303 inhabitants in the last U.S. census. The first would bring 126 market-rate apartments, 12 town-homes and new public space to a long-vacant site on the western shore of Tanners Lake, near the Century Avenue / I-94 interchange. This proposal was approved in October by local companies McGlynn Partners and Boo Realty. Once it begins, construction should take 12 to 18 months, and the hope is to get the structures framed up before winter sets in. Oakdale's second imminent multi-family build is Enclave Co's 374-unit apartment and town-home project less than 1,000-feet from the Helmo station, near the I-94 / I-694 interchange. Enclave's plan includes 262 apartments, 112 town-homes and a 2.83-acre public park. The community will feature a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments and town-homes with amenities including a pet spa, golf simulator, coffee bar and grill stations. Enclave still plans to break ground in "mid-2025" and wrap construction in 2027. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 27

Beltline Station Housing Project Set to Begin in July
Affordable Housing  | Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Site Preparation
A mixed-use, mixed-income development near the Green Line extension in St. Louis Park is nearing construction, its developer told members of the city's Economic Development Authority. The Beltline Station redevelopment is a 380-unit project that would include 21,300-square-feet of commercial space. The developer hopes to start construction on its nearly 300-units of market-rate apartments and a parking ramp in July. The first and third buildings, as they are labeled by the planning documents, are both designated for market-rate housing, and are slated to begin construction the next quarter --- which begins in July --- according to planning notes. The second building will be set up to have 82 affordable units, affordable at an average of 50% of the area median income. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Burnsville Begins $81M City Hall, Police Headquarters Expansion
Project Update - Breaking Ground
Kraus-Anderson has started the $81.26-million project, which will renovate and expand the existing 35-year-old city hall-police complex at 100 Civic Center Parkway. Designed by CNH Architects, the project includes a 120,483-square-foot additions and a 91,550-square-foot renovation. An expanded city hall, police department, squad garage and gun range are among the scopes of work. Kraus-Anderson said the complex occupies eight acres of land, which will "undergo civil construction and infrastructure enhancements." Construction will play out in three phases, starting with the city hall addition. The police department addition and city hall remodeling / sitework will follow in the second and third rounds of construction. The project is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2028. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Milwaukee Suburb Acquires Additional Land for Data Center Campus
Data Center  |  Substations
The city of Port Washington Common Council approved acquiring more than 562-acres of land and to rezone it to a "Technology Campus District." It's part of a campaign to annex land for a future data center east of Interstate 43. Cloverleaf Infrastructure, a firm that sets up sites for data centers, is the lead developer for a project that could span up to 1,600-acres. An end user hasn't been announced yet, but the data center could be operated by a large tech company such as Google or Meta. The future data center is expected to use more than a gigawatt of power, enough to power around 800,000 homes, multiple outlets reported. It's likely We Energies will propose building substations to meet the power demand, Cloverleaf officials said. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Rochester Buys $2.7M Site for New Fire Station Plan
Municipal
The city recently closed on a $2.7-million acquisition of land it needs for a planned fire station in the northwest part of town, at 60th Avenue and Valleyhigh Drive, according to a certificate of real estate value. The site is just over 100-acres in size. The city is determining where exactly it will locate the fire station on the property. Additional land on the site will be put on the open market for development. The timeline for building the fire station is to be determined. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 28

Condor Corp. Plans 67-Unit Expansion of Mendota Heights Apartment Complex
Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
Condor Corp. plans to construct a 67-unit apartment building on the site of an existing apartment complex. Lexington Heights Apartments, located near Interstate 35E at 2320 Lexington Avenue, was developed in 1983 and currently consists of 225 housing units. Condor plans to bring the unit count to 292 with this addition, according to an application filed with the Mendota Heights Planning Commission. The proposed four-story building would be east of the northernmost building of the existing Lexington Heights. The building would total over 93,000-square-feet and offer a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. The below ground parking area would include 68 parking stalls. If approved, construction is set to begin this fall or in Spring 2026. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Congressional Budget Bill Could Kill Solar Industry in Minnesota Just As It Was Gaining Momentum
Industry News - Green Energy & Solar
When Marty Morud opened his solar installation business 15 years ago in Minnesota, his customer base included early adopters and climate-conscious believers. Now, Morud's company, TruNorth Solar out of Arden Hills, puts solar panels on barns and schools. This evolution in the industry, he said, came with a change in how Americans view green energy. And the federal government was in lock-step, with tax credits boosting the shift. Now, however, Congress is on the cusp of passing a budget bill that effectively vaporizes green energy tax credits, including those used to finance solar panel manufacturers to wind farms and geothermal home-heating systems. (Minnesota Star Tribune)
 

St. Paul Developer Targets Workforce Housing Gap with Vadnais Heights Project
Affordable Housing  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Playground
Real Estate Equities plans to build 180 affordable apartments in Vadnais Heights. The developer plans a 227,950-square-foot residential building on about 10-acres just off Interstate 694 and Highway 61, according to documents filed with the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board. The project is working its way through teh environmental review process. The development would include one-story of structured parking, five-stories of residential units, a dog run, outdoor patio, playground and parking lot, the documents show. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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MAY 29

Adaptive Reuse Project Turns Madison Hotel into Apartments
Adaptive Reuse  |  Affordable Housing  |  Multi-Family
Wiseman Capital led the adaptive reuse of the 129-unit Sandburg Studios, built out of a former Super 8 hotel on the east side of the city. The project, expected to open in June, will create housing without the use of public money that is affordable for professionals. Located near the UW-Health East Madison Hospital, the apartments at 4757 Hayes Road are geared for student residents, traveling nurses, university and technical college students who want amenities with an affordable price. Diving into an adaptive reuse project, which renovates an older building for modern use, helped deliver naturally occurring affordable housing compared to mroe expensive ground-up construction. The hotel was brought down to the studs, while fixtures like windows, doors and tiles were replaced. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Hamm's Brewery Redevelopment Clears Zoning Hurdle in St. Paul
Redevelopment
A series of rezonings for the historic St. Paul site proposed earlier this year by local developer JB Vang Partners will turn multiple I2 general industrial parcels into residential and traditional neighborhood areas. JB Vang was granted exclusive development rights of the property by the city of St. Paul back in 2023. Of the parcels the brewery campus spans, five have been approved to be rezoned, and ultimately, redeveloped. However, redevelopment ideas have gotten pushback from some other area business owners, including Rob Clapp, owner of Saint Paul Brewing. His brewery has resided on the Hamm's Brewing Complex for five years, and he has acquired nearly half of the complex. St. Paul's Housing and Redevelopment Authority owns the other half. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

LS Black Constructors Names New President as Longtime CEO Sterling Black Steps Back
Industry News - Leadership Changes
LS Black Constructors announced that CEO Sterling Black has stepped back from overseeing day-to-day operations after 18 years of leadership. Mark Liska, who previously served as the vice president of business development, has taken over those day-to-day responsibilities in the role of president. Black will remain as CEO and on the company's board. Founded in 1977 by Larry S. Black, LS Black offers construction and design-build services. Larry Black's son, Sterling Black, took ownership of the company in 2007. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Wisconsin Proposes $2.6B for Highway Repairs
Street & Sidewalk Improvements
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is proposing more than $2-billion for road repairs in the state's 2025-2027 state budget, marking a $397-million increase over the previous budget cycle. The plan includes $2.6-billion over two years for the State Highway Rehabilitation Program. To support the spending boost, Evers has proposed raising vehicle title fees by $120 and increasing driver's license fees from $24 to $32.50. These adjustments are projected to generate approximately $290-million over the specified period. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the state maintains more than 11,000-miles of state and interstate highways. (Roads & Bridges)
 

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MAY 30

St. Paul Developer Plan 60-Unit Affordable Housing Project at Former Minneapolis Church Site
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family  |  Playground
En entity tied to Premier Management & Development, in partnership with nonprofit Preservation Housing Trust of Minnesota, seeks to build a six-story, 60-unit building called The Warren at 3120 Washburn Avenue North. The development would replace the former Parkway United Church of Christ, which has been vacant for five years, according to city documents. The 1.3-acre site also has a surface parking lot and cell tower, which would be relocated to another portion of the property. The city approved the building's demolition earlier this year. It was built in the 1950s and was once known as the Pilgrim Heights Community Church, city documents show. The unit mix will include one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom units affordable to households making at or below between 30% and 50% of the area median income. Fifteen of the units will be set aside for supportive housing, eight units for those experiencing homelessness, and seven units for people with disabilities. Amenities would include coworking spaces, a community room, a prater room, a fitness center, bike storage room, outdoor children's play area, and outdoor gardening space. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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MAY 31

Chanhassen to Review 412-Unit Luxury Avienda Apartments Project
Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
The Chanhassen Planning Commission will consider a 412-unit luxury apartment building from Inland Development Partners. The project is the second addition of a planned unit development first put forward in 2020, according to planning documents. It will go before the planning commission at its June 3rd meeting. Located at the southwest corner of Lyman and Powers boulevards, the luxury apartment building would spread 412-units across four-stories, planning documents show. The project will be dubbed the Avienda Apartments. The project would have a mix of units sizes, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, including one-bedroom and den units. When presented to the commissioners, the project will come with a staff recommendation for approval, planning documents show. The project will also feature 736 stalls parking stalls, about 10 more stalls than what the city code requires. Out of the 736 stalls, 492 still be underground garage parking and 143 stalls will be outdoor spaces. Inland, planning documents say, has "proof of parking" for the remaining 101 stalls of outdoor parking. Outdoor amenities include not one, but two dog parks, on opposite sides of the building. The center of hte building will be a courtyard, which will have a pool, putting greens, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, lounge areas and a garden, as well as sidewalks outside of the apartment. Indoor amenities will include a golf simulator, a clubroom, a coffee bar and coworking spaces, a fitness center, an "indoor sport court," and a sauna. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Contentious Milwaukee Hotel Project Gets Key City Approval
Hotel
The city of Milwaukee Zoning, Neighborhood and Development Committee recommended zoning for a seven-story, 156-room Moxy Hotel on the northwest corner of West State Street and North Vel R. Phillips Avenue. The proposal passed by a split vote after the committee voted to hold the project on May 6th. The project is proposed by NCG Hospitality Group, a Middleton-based developer which completed the Trade hotel at 420 West Juneau Avenue. The Moxy, which is estimated to cost around $50-million, will be built next to an already underway 4,500-seat FPC Live venue on Vel R. Phillips Avenue. It's likely that the project will go to the Common Council next; the council is scheduled to meet on June 3rd. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Supreme Court Ruling Could Accelerate Development Projects
Industry News - Environmental Reviews
The Supreme Court narrowed the scope of environmental reviews required for major infrastructure projects in a ruling that could accelerate development of railroads, highways and pipelines across the country. The 8-0 decision follows an appeal to the high court from backers of a multi-billion-dollar oil railroad expansion project in Utah, which is aimed at quadrupling oil production in the remote are of sandstone and sagebrush. Environmental groups said the decision would have sweeping impacts on how the National Environmental Policy Act is applied. The landmark environmental law requires federal agencies to study the likely environmental impacts of government-funded projects in an often lengthy review process. The judges reversed a lower court decision that required a more thorough environmental assessment and restored an important approval from federal regulators on the Surface Transportation Board. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Building Buzz: Growth, Grants and Groundbreakings from Eagan to Rochester

Welcome to the latest edition of Building Buzz, where we bring you the freshest updates shaking up Minnesota's commercial construction scene.

This month, we're tracking a surge of projects that span everything from major housing developments and retail revitalizations to industrial expansions and cultural milestones. Eagan and Rochester are especially hot, with housing units, hotel plans, and even a potential Ecolab expansion making waves. Minneapolis is seeing impactful mixed-use projects rise from past challenges, while transit funding is fueling new affordable housing across Hennepin County. Meanwhile, big names like Amazon and Home Depot are navigating shifting economic landscapes with bold moves and steady strategies.

From legislative departments in St. Paul to a groundbreaking new arts center in Milwaukee, there's a lot to unpack --- so let's dive in.
 

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MAY 9

Eagan Approves 450-Unit Metcalf Redevelopment
Community & Assisted Living  |  Multi-Family 
A redevelopment of the former Metcalf Middle School site has received the final stamp of approval from the Eagan City Council. The project was approved unanimously by the council at their May 6th meeting. The redevelopment will bring 450-units of housing spread across an apartment building, a senior cooperative, townhomes, and twin homes. Located at 2250 Diffley Road, the redevelopment is dubbed Metcalf Park. It received the green light in late March from the Metropolitan Council, which sent it back to Eagan for final approval. Pulte Homes is the master developer of the site, having first brought a proposal for the site to the city of Eagan in Summer 2023. At that point, Pulte was set to build the 97 townhomes and 42 twin homes; Lifestyle Communities was set to build the 66-unit senior housing cooperative; and Enclave was set to build the 245-unit apartment. Since then, Enclave has left the project. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 14

Plymouth Plaza Site Eyed for Retail, Workforce Housing
Commercial & Retail  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
Marco McClane Development and Mithun Cos. want to redevelop the Plymouth Plaza site in Plymouth with new uses that include retail and a 200-unit apartment building, a project that promises to enhance the city's "missing middle" housing stock. The Plymouth City Council reviewed a "sketch plan" for the project on May 13th. Though the council didn't take formal action, council members generally liked the idea of bringing more workforce homes to an existing underused site. The council raised concerns about traffic impacts and the height of the new building. The developers said they plan to address these issues and hope to start construction by late fall. A site plan submitted to the city shows a four-story, 200-unit apartment building on the western side of the development site, along with two retail buildings --- a 14,000-square-foot building and a 1,400-square-foot structure --- on the north. The project would require changes to the city's comprehensive plan, would retain 21,750-square-feet of space in the existing commercial building. The site also shows 303 garage and surface parking spaces for the apartments and 158 surface parking spaces for commercial uses. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 15

Construction, Design Leaders Call for Action on 2025 Bonding Bill
Minnesota Legislature 2025
After failing to pass a bonding bill in 2024, legislative leaders in both the House and the Senate have expressed "strong interest in completing a bonding bill this session, and both chambers have approved vehicles for bills to move forward," according to the Minnesota chapter of the American Instituted of Architects (AIA Minnesota), a member of the pro-bonding Building Jobs Coalition. With only days left in the 2025 regular legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn Monday, May 19th, lawmakers have yet to move forward on a bill to pay for public works projects. Bonding could be taken up in potential special session, however. Meanwhile, numerous projects are queued up for bonding. The needs are piling up at a time when the construction economy is facing headwinds, including tariff-induced price uncertainties' for steel and aluminum. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 16

$5M Project Aims to Boost Lake Street Revival with Housing and Retail Spaces
Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family
A Rochester-based developer plans to transform a site damaged during the 2020 civil unrest following George Floyd's murder with a $5-million mixed-use development along East Lake Street in Minneapolis. The four-story development would include 16 market-rate housing units and two ground-floor retail spaces at 2815 Lake Street East, according to Kenneth Bush, CEO and owner of Bush Cos. The plan revives a previous 8-unit iteration of the redevelopment sought by another developer in 2021. Bush Cos. has been working on its version of the project since Spring 2024. It has received funding, including from Hennepin County and the Graves Foundation through Lake Street Lift, an initiative in partnership with the Lake Street Council aimed at funding initiatives and organizations that seek to improve Lake Street. The project, called Lola Lofts, is to provide for the "missing middle" of housing, a term that refers to housing that falls between a single-family home and a larger scale apartment building. The two retail spaces, together spanning 2,370-square-feet, are intended to house emerging local businesses. Pending city approvals, the project aims to begin site preparation by this winter. The goal is to be open by August of next year. College Architects is designing the project, while Yellow Tree Development is the general contractor. Platform CRE is a consultant on the project. (Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Affordable Housing Funded by Hennepin Transit Grants
Affordable Housing  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed-Use
A project that will bring more than 30 new deeply affordable homes to Brooklyn Center is among the recipients of newly awarded "transit-oriented community" grants from Hennepin County. The County Board awarded $2-million in all for six projects --- four in Minneapolis, one each in Hopkins and Brooklyn Center. The funding comes from the county's Transit Oriented Communities program, which advances walkable, mixed-use communities that "leverage high-quality transit service." Leveraging $80-million in total investment value, the funding will support 110 new or retained jobs and create 149 new housing units overall, along with 48,800-square-feet of commercial space, according to Hennepin County. Included in the funding is $400,000 for VY Enterprise LLC's Community Corner, a mixed-use affordable housing development in Brooklyn Center. Offering 31 units of housing for residents at or below 30% of area median income, the $18.1-million project also includes three affordable commercial spaces. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Amazon to Build New Distribution Center South of Rochester
Facility  |  Industrial
Amazon has completed the purchase of a 23-acre site just south of Rochester where the online retailer plans to build a "last-mile" distribution facility in Stewartville's Schumann Business Park. Plans call for Amazon to build a nearly 84,000-square-foot facility on the site, which was annexed by the city earlier this year. The Stewartville City Council approved a development plan for the site in February. Amazon did not immediately did not respond to questions about how it plans to invest in the Stewartville facility, code-named "Project Tiger." (Minnesota Star Tribune)
 

Merchants Capital Provides $32.9M in Financing for 60-Unit Multi-Family Development in St. Paul
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Multi-Family  |  Playground
East 7th Street includes 17-units designated for individuals earning 30% of area median income (AMI) and 43-units designated for individuals earning up to 60% of AMI. Seven units will be set aside for people with disabilities and seven units will be reserved for high-priority homeless housing via Ramsey County Housing Support Program and Coordinated Entry System. Developed by Project for Pride in Living (PPL), the East 7th Street affordable housing development was designed to accommodate "grandfamilies" with large family-kindship. East 7th Street will offer one- to five-bedroom apartments with washer / dryer, LVT flooring and stainless-steel appliances. Community amenities include a fitness center and wellness room, package lockers, on-site management and maintenance, bike storage, storage units, playground, lounge area, conference room, and an elevator. (RE Journals)
 

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MAY 19

Ecolab Weighs Expansion at 90-Acre Campus in Eagan
Facility  |  Industrial
Ecolab proposes to renovate and expand its footprint at its 90-acre campus in Eagan. The St. Paul-based chemical and water treatment company plans to seek funding for the project through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Minnesota Forward Fund, according to documents filed with the city of Eagan. While details are slim, the company does have room to grow there. As part of the expansion proposal, Ecolab would renovate the existing facilities on the Allan L. Schuman Campus, which is located at 655 Lone Oak Drive, just south of Viking Lakes development that's home to the Minnesota Vikings' headquarters. The company also plans to expand its research and development facilities, build a new customer experie3nce center, and purchase equipment for the campus, city documents show. The company may submit an application for land-use approvals in the coming months, according to the city documents. Construction would begin in late 2025. (Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Empire Hotels Plans Hotels, Apartments at Ex-Post Builletin Site in Downtown Rochester
Commercial & Retail  |  Hotel  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Restaurant
Empire Hotels seeks to redevelop the vacant site, located at 18 First Avenue Southeast across from the Mayo Civic Center, with a total of 290-rooms and a seven-story, 190-unit residential complex. The plans were first reported by the Post Bulletin. The developer also plans to build a 260-stall parking ramp and nearly 11,000-square-feet of commercial space. The commercial space could include uses like retail, a food hall or entertainment, according to documents submitted to the city in March. One of the hotels, which includes 155-rooms, is anticipated to be an AC Hotels by Marriott, submitted plans show. The 135-room hotel branding is still to be determined. The residential mix would include micro apartments, spanning 380-square-feet each; studio apartments, at 500-square-feet each; and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Minneapolis-based ESG Architecture & Design is working on the project. Empire Hotels hopes to start work on the Post Bulletin site project in early 2026. (Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal)
 

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MAY 20

$92M Affordable Housing Project to Break Ground in Woodbury
Affordable Housing  |  Lighting  |  Multi-Family  |  Street & Sidewalk Improvements  |  Trails
A long-planned $92-million affordable housing project is on the cusp of construction in Woodbury. The project, developed by Broadway Street Development, will bring 237 new apartments to a site at 580 Manning Avenue South, which is near a new Amazon light industrial facility and the city of Woodbury's Prairie Ridge Park. The units will be affordable for households at 50% - 70% of the area's medium income, according to Broadway Street Development, which announced the project's closing late on May 19th. The imminent start of the construction comes more than a year after the project was approved. Scheduled for occupancy in Spring 2027, the four-story building will house one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Apartments will feature nine-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances, a side-by-side washer and dryer, a balcony, walk-in closets in the primary bedrooms, a reservable conference room, and a pet spa and dog park, among other amenities. The development also includes "public improvements such as public road connection to the site, expansion of public trails and construction of turn lanes for the project on Manning Avenue," the developers said. (Finance & Commerce)
 

After 10 Years and Millions in State Dollars, Has Rochester's Destination Medical Center Plan Lived up to the Promise?
Project Update - Rochester, Minn.
A coffee talk on the East Coast almost two decades ago forever changed Rochester. Two local businessmen asked questions that helped launch the city's unprecedented economic development project --- Destination Medical Center, the $585-million initiative to turn Rochester into an international medical hub over a 20-year period. Halfway through its lifecycle, DMC --- paid for with city, county and state funding --- is on track to meet its objective to bring $5.6-billion in private investment downtown. DMC remain the largest project ever carried through the Legislature. It wasn't well received at first, in part because lawmakers wanted more financial commitment from the city and Olmsted County, which eventually added $128-miilion and $46.6-million respectively to the state's $410.6-million. It officially launched in 2015 with funding secured through 2035. (Minnesota Star Tribune)
 

Downtown Rochester to see 340-Unit Development as Reuter Walton Advances Citywalk Project
Athletic Facility  |  EV Infrastructure  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
Reuter Walton plans to begin construction on a $150-million residential project in downtown Rochester this year after landing key city approvals on May 19th. The city of Rochester's Economic Development Authority gave the St. Louis Park-based developer the green light on a tax increment financing plan to help support the development of a new 13-story, 340-unit residential building, known as Citywalk. The project has gone through previous iterations led by a previous developer, dating back to at least 2022. Reuter Walton got involved in the project in later 2024. One-fourth of the 340-units in the new development will be set aside for short-term housing for those visiting the Mayo Clinic. Building amenities include structured parking, a fitness space, conference room, community room, outdoor pools and spa deck, work-from-home space, electric-vehicle charging stations, outdoor green space and seating, and a package delivery system, according to city documents. Units will have quartz countertops, tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, in-unit washers and dryers, roller shades, carpeted bedrooms, and more. Construction on the development is expected to begin by the end of this year and be completed by the end of 2027. (Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Home Depot Holds Prices Steady Despite Tariff Pressure
Economic Outlook  |  Industry News
Home Depot doesn't expect to raise prices because of tariffs, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves. Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call said that Home Depot's suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12-months from now. During the first quarter, Home Depot's revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Reuter Walton to Build 340 Apartments Near Mayo Clinic
Athletic Facility  |  EV Infrastructure  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
The Rochester Economic Development Authority approved an economic development plan and authorized a tax increment financing (TIF) district for the roughly $150-million residential development project, which clears the way for construction of the new 13-story, 340-unit Citywalk apartment building at the southwest corner of Second Street Southwest and Sixth Avenue Southwest. The site is across the street from Mayo Clinic's $5-billion campus expansion, according to the development team, which notes that the project will deliver "quality housing for the Mayo Clinic's employees as well as short-term rental housing for patients and guests." Scheduled for completed on December 31, 2027, the project will boast amenities such as structured parking, a fitness room, conference room, community room, club room, outdoor pools and spa deck, work-from-home space, package delivery system, EV charging stations, outdoor green space and seating. As part of the development, the current property owner has agreed to place the two adjacent apartment buildings into Olmsted County's 4D affordable housing program. (Finance & Commerce)
 

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MAY 21

Demolition of Milwaukee DNR Building Paves Way for $55M Arts Center
Demolition  |  Recreation & Entertainment
A former state agency building will be demolished in Milwaukee, a sign that a long-planned African American arts and culture center project will move forward. The Bronzeville Center for the Arts announced plans to demolish the former Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office on the northeast corner of North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and West North Avenue. BCA wants to build a $55-million, 50,000-square-foot museum and events space in the footprint of the old DNR building. Demolition is expected to start in June through December, and the site will be used for a green space. When demolition is completed, there will be an interim period before the new building BCA will undergo, including turning the lot into an activated space for the surrounding community. The group will bring on a landscape architect and gather community input for uses of the green space, including bringing in artists in the planning process. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Graco Leaving Minneapolis, Opening Riverfront Site for Potential Development
Commercial Development
Graco is closing its Northeast Minneapolis campus and moving hundreds of employees to the northwest metro, setting the stage for one of the Twin Cities' best redevelopment opportunities in years. This is 40-acres of prime Mississippi Riverfront land in what was already a hot area for development. But the decision also underscores an ongoing transition for the city as it moves away from manufacturing. Graco announced on May 21st that it will exist the campus over the next two years and build a new headquarters in either Rogers or Dayton. It remains to be seen how much cleanup is needed to prepare the site for sale and how much interest there is in the land from developers. (Axios Twin Cities)
 

Milwaukee Office Building Could Undergo Apartment Conversion
Multi-Family  |  Office-to-Home Renovations
Time Equities Inc. owns 310 West Wisconsin, also called 310W, the multi-tenant downtown Milwaukee office building that could be turned into housing. The Kubala Washatko Architects submitted a request for a commercial alteration permit to add 222 apartments to the 14-story building. Further project details haven't been shared. The conversion of 310W is part of a larger trend of office-to-home renovations planned in the city's business center. Such examples are 100 East office building and J. Jeffers & Co.'s planned renovation of the Mitchell Building. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Theodore Roosevelt's $400M Mass Timber Library Rises in North Dakota
Project Update - North Dakota
Mercer Mass Timber has completed the first phase of construction on the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, according to a May 20th press release. The project's construction costs total $400-million, per a funding breakdown by the library. Phase one of construction on the 93,000-square-foot structure began last year, and is centered on the museum building and its roof, according to the news release. JE Dunn is the general contractor on the project, according to Mercer Mass Timber's project page. The roof is designed to echo the rolling topography of the North Dakota Badlands, and requires precisely engineered connections and joints supported by steel wrapped in wood to maintain a seamless timber look. The final mass timber delivery date will be on June 1st, which coincides with the stat date of the second phase of construction. (Construction Dive)
 

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MAY 22

Brookfield Shopping Development Plans Retail, Housing Expansion
Commercial & Retail  |  Mixed Use  |  Multi-Family
The Corners of Brookfield announced that it will overhaul its Market Street, located on the east side of the town center, which includes a new slate of retailers and enhancements to public spaces. The 40,000-square-foot project is expected to start in June. Alongside the Market Street makeover, the Corners shared that its effort to create the West End mixed-use development is moving forward. Construction of the West End expansion, which includes retail and housing space, is expected to start in the first half of 2026, officials noted. Milwaukee-area construction, development, and architecture firms will represent IM Properties in both Market Street and West End projects. IM Properties is the master developer and owner of the Corners of Brookfield. The project team includes Mandel Group, who is advising the Corners on development of the West End; RINKA+ was appointed project architect for the West End and Market Street effort; Pepper Construction was hired as general contract on the Market Street initiative; and Hunzinger Construction will remain the landlord contractor delivering new space for retail tenants. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Mankato Logistics Firm Buys Large Distribution Center From True Value for New HQ, Operations Base
Facility  |  Industrial  |  Storage
Logistics company Volk Transfer Co. has acquired a 300,000-square-foot distribution center to become its new corporate headquarters and operations base. The facility, purchased from hardware retailer True Value, is situated on 60-acres of land off Highway 14, according to an announcement released by Volk. The building will undergo a full office renovation, as well as updates to the exterior and dock doors. The large space will give the company more options for storage, safe food certification and RFID scanning technology, ultimately allowing Volk to expand its operation capacity across the country. Volk Transfer currently resides in a 50,000-square-foot space at 2205 Seventh Avenue in Mankato where it has operated since 2011. Volk will maintain ownership of that space. (Minneapolis / St Paul Business Journal)
 

PSC Approves Natural Gas Power Plants Planned in Oak Creek and Kenosha County
Facility  |  Industrial  |  Power Plant
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved We Energies' $1.5-billion plan to build a new natural gas power plan in Oak Creek and a reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) natural gas power plant in the Kenosha County town of Paris. The facilities are expected to generate more than 1,200-megawatts of combined energy. Both projects are planned to accommodate a surge in data center development in the area and We Energies' efforts to transition to carbon neutral energy production by 2050. We Energies' new natural gas power plant planned for Oak Creek will be built at the Oak Creek Generating Site west of the existing coal-powered Oak Creek Power Plant and Elm Road Generating Station. The plant will generate and will cost about $1.2-billion. (BizTime - Milwaukee Business News)