From new community hubs to ambitious redevelopments, October has shaped up to be a big month across Minnesota and beyond.

In Minneapolis, plans are pouring in for a long-awaited water services facility and the first phase of the city’s bold Kmart site revival, complete with affordable housing, public art, and geothermal goals. Up north, Brainerd is readying a 190-unit apartment project while Bemidji preps to break ground on a new YMCA. Lake Elmo’s giving new life to a fire station (hello, “Tap & Ladder”), and Bloomington just broke ground on a $100-million wellness center designed to keep the community moving. Meanwhile, Kwik Trip keeps expanding its Minnesota footprint, Meta keeps buying land near Rosemount, and Wisconsin’s mass timber dreams hit a speed bump in Milwaukee.

From data centers and solar farms to adaptive reuse and 3D-printed coffee shops, the region’s construction scene is as varied and as busy as ever.
 

OCTOBER 8

Does September Swoon Mean Future Challenges for the Multi-Family Sector?
Market Outlook - Multi-Family
According to Yardi Matrix's September Multi-Family National Report, the average advertised apartment rent in the United States fell $6 to $1,750 a month in September. At the same time, year-over-year multi-family rent growth fell 30 basis points to just 0.6%. Yardi Matrix said that in markets with too much new multi-family supply, building owners are offering concessions or cutting advertised rents to attract tenants. A key factor for the multi-family market's rental fall? Yardi Matrix said that more than 525,000 apartment units are in the lease-up phase across the country. That intensifies competition among properties. Markers with the weakest rent growth are often those with the deepest pipeline of units in the lease-up phase. (RE Journal)
 

Minneapolis Plans New Maintenance Facility for Water Services
City Planning  |  Demolition  |  Design Services  |  Facility  |  Municipal  |  Public Infrastructure  |  Public Works  |  Replacement  |  Water Distribution  |  Water Treatment
Plans are heating up for a new public works water distribution maintenance facility in northeast Minneapolis --- a long-desired project that will replace an existing century-old building. The Minneapolis Planning Commission signed off on a proposal to acquire a 5-acre site for the new facility. The commission determined that the acquisition conforms with the city's comprehensive plan. The site includes properties at 2700. 2701, 2705 1/2 University Avenue Northeast and 40 1/2 27th Avenue Northeast and currently holds a 112,500-square-foot industrial building. Bagtape Industries leases production and warehouse space in the building, which was built in 1946. The city won't hire design services until it has control of the site. The city expects to close on the site before the end of the year. The city signed off on a final purchase agreement with the owner, effective last week. The city plans to issue a request for design services in 2026, followed by construction in 2027, and a ribbon-cutting in early 2028. The new facility will serve Minneapolis Water Treatment and Distribution Services, which is a division of the Minneapolis Department of Public Works. City documents say the existing facility (located at 935 Fifth Avenue Southeast in Minneapolis) has inadequate HVAC systems, structural deterioration, and insufficient "people spaces," such as lockers and break rooms, among other shortcomings. (Finance & Commerce)
 

OCTOBER 9

190-Unit Apartment Project Advances in Brainerd
Athletic Facility  |  Elevator  |  Housing  |  Multi-Family  |  Parks & Open Spaces  |  Playground  |  Residential  |  Security
The Brainerd City Council signed off on a preliminary plat and planned unit development for the proposed 190-unit, market-rate project, which would bring five 38-unit buildings to a site near the northwest corner of the intersection of Greenwood Street and Highway 371 Business. The city is preparing an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the project. According to city documents, the council is required to complete an EAW because the project includes more than 150-units. A final plat and final planned unit development will be up for approval at the November 19th planning commission meeting, followed by City Council review on December 1st, according to a city staff report. Developed by Kuepers, the project would include studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 479 to 970-square-feet, according to a project narrative. Included in the project are shared interior and exterior amenities, including a secure main entrance, two-story lobby, community room, fitness center, parcel room, mail center, and centralized elevator. Also planned as a "large central green space, play areas / equipment for children, pickleball court, picnic areas with gas grills, \bike racks, and a fenced dog run." The developer hopes to start construction in Spring 2026. The project will be done in phases, beginning with three apartment buildings in the first phase and two in the second. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Kraus-Anderson to Build YMCA in Bemidji
Breaking Ground - Athletic Facility  |  Childcare Center  |  Facility  |  Playground  |  Swimming Pool
Kraus-Anderson will build a new YMCA on the 100 block of Minnesota Avenue in downtown Bemidji. The project is an initiative of Greater Bemidji's "Building Our Future," which aims to drive development and promote prosperity in the region. Designed by JLG Architects, the new 60,000-square-foot facility will include an indoor track, an aquatics center, an indoor playground, party rooms, and a fitness center with a weight room, exercise studios, and education classrooms. The building will also include a drop-in childcare center for use while parents and guardians are using the Y. Clean up, site prep, and infrastructure will begin this summer. Groundbreaking is planned for Spring 2026, and construction is expected in Fall 2027. (RE Journals)
 

Lake Elmo Approves Plans for Two New Restaurants
Adaptive Reuse  |  Community Redevelopment  |  Fire Station Renovation  |  Historic Preservation  |  Restaurant
A former fire station and a shuttered parks building in Lake Elmo are poised to become go-to places for hungry locals. Lake Elmo's City Council approved a concept from Brian Heidt and Amanda Urban, in partnership with Julian Ocampo, to transform the properties into eateries. As part of an adaptive reuse project, the fire station at 3510 Laverne Avenue will become "Tap & Ladder," which is described in a city staff report as a "self-pour taphouse and casual dining restaurant with approximately 150 seats." The project also includes a second restaurant, "Machete Cocina Mexicana," which will take shape within the former parks building at 11200 Upper 33rd Street. A staff report described the restaurant as a "bold, chef-driven concept already thriving on the southwest side of Woodbury." In the RFP, the city encouraged developers to preserve the fire station through adaptive reuse. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Minneapolis Seeks Developers for 1st Phase of Kmart Site Redevelopment
Affordable Housing  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Geothermal  |  Grocery Store  |  Multi-Family  |  Municipal  |  Parking Structure  |  Parks & Open Spaces  |  Residential  |  Street & Sidewalk Improvements
The city of Minneapolis is looking for developers to lead the first phase of the planned redevelopment of the former Lake Street Kmart site. The city issued a request for proposals to transform the southeast quadrant of the 10-acre K-mart site, once home to the 1970s-built department store that blocked Nicollet Avenue between Lake Street and what is now the Midtown Greenway. The store closed in 2022 and was demolished after a fire caused the building to partially collapse in 2023. The overall project, dubbed New Nicollet, envisions rental and owner-occupied housing, nonprofit space, green space, a grocery store, and the reopening of Nicollet Avenue. Mayor Jacob Frey and the Minneapolis City Council approved a development framework for the project earlier this year. The current RFP seeks a developer for only the southeast quadrant --- the first phase --- which spans up to 1.6-acres. The RFP indicates the city seeks proposals with: (1) A range of subsidized housing units affordable to those making between 30% and 60% of the area median income; (2) Family-sized housing units and supportive-housing units; (3) A ground-floor use offering affordable commercial rents with local business tenants and a multi-purpose park program space that faces the public park to the north; (4) Vehicle access from First Avenue only with parking below-grade or located within or enclosed by a building; (5) Public art and green-space amenities; and (6) All or nearly natural-gas free development proposals with geothermal technology or other strategies to control tenant utility costs. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board intends to lease up to 4,000-square-feet on the ground-floor, park-facing space in the new development within the first phase. The city intends the park to be constructed around the same time as that phase. Developers have until January 6th to submit their proposals. The city is expected to come forward with a recommendation to the City Council by next spring. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

OCTOBER 10

Developer Faces $25M Shortfall on Milwaukee Mass Timber Tower
Wisconsin Projects - C.D. Smith Construction  |  Construction Pause  |  Downtown Milwaukee  |  Luxury Apartments  |  Mass Timber Tower  |  Milwaukee  |  Multi-Family  |  Neutral  |  Residential
Neutral (Madison, Wisc.), the developer behind the Neutral.Edison timber tower, which paused work in downtown Milwaukee, was found to be short $25-million of its project budget. The developer and city officials discussed how to ensure the project can move forward. Neutral led the construction of a 31-story, 378-unit luxury apartment tower at 1005 North Edison Street, which broke ground in July 2025. The tower would be the tallest mass timber building in North America. However, construction paused unexpectedly in September, and C.D. Smith Construction (Fond du Lac, Wisc.) has been absent from their site. Neutral cited rising costs and tariffs as reasons behind the project's pause. Much of the foundation has already been poured, and some C.D. Smith workers were seen dismantling the site. With winter a few months away, city officials discussed potential outcomes for the development. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Minneapolis Seeks Proposals for Kmart Site Rebuild
Affordable Housing  |  Architect  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Grocery Store  |  Multi-Family  |  Municipal
The city of Minneapolis is seeking development proposals for the first phase of new buildings at the former Kmart site in south Minneapolis, a 10-acre location framed by the Midtown Greenway, Lake Street, First Avenue, and Blaisdell Avenue. The long-anticipated redevelopment of the property is guided by the New Nicollet Development Framework, which was approved in May. Redevelopment will be "led by the private sector, facilitated and guided by Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED)," according to the framework. The first phase of development, rising on the southeast portion of the site, will provide affordable housing, ground-floor commercial space, non-profit services, and Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board indoor programming space, according to the city. As previously reported, the framework calls for 500 to 600 units of rental housing in five buildings, most of which would have retail on the bottom level. The apartments would be a mix of affordable and market-rate rents. In addition, the framework calls for a 20,000- to 30,000-square-foot grocery store at the corner of Nicollect Avenue and Lake Street. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Twin Cities Office Vacancy Holds Steady at 22%
Commercial Real Estate - Colliers Report  |  Hempel Development  |  Offices  |  Office Vacancy  |  St. Paul Office Space  |  Twin Cities Office Market
The Twin Cities office market has seen its vacancy rate stay mostly stagnant from this time last year, though two segments of the market --- the downtown cores and Class B properties --- have seen a decent increase over the same period of time, according to a recent report from Colliers. The overall vacancy rate for the Twin Cities metro at 22.1%, with its price per square foot at $31,24, the report on the third quarter showed. Absorption sites at negative 396,633-square-feet. When vacancy rates are segmented by location, the downtown cores of Minneapolis and St. Paul sit at 30.8% and 39.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, suburban markets are seeing lower vacancy rates, such as the I-494 Corridor submarket sitting at 24.6% or the I-394 Corridor and Northwest are posting rates closer to 17.4%. (Finance & Commerce)
 

OCTOBER 13

Blaine Advanced Plan for New Self-Storage Facility
Commercial & Retail  |  Parking Structure  |  Self-Storage Facility  |  Storage
Blaine is a step closer to a new, 77,400-square-foot self-storage facility after the Blaine City Council held its first reading for an ordinance that would rezone part of the property from residential zoning to community commercial. The rezoning happened at the council's latest meeting, affecting land located at 8634 Central Avenue Northeast, according to city planning documents. The 77,400-square-feet of space is spread across three-stories, according to documents. The development is pitched by Scott Uram, a local insurance agent who owns the property. According to a record of the neighborhood meeting, the property's development would resolve issues around squatting, dumping, and trespassing currently happening on the site. The site will feature 24 parking stalls, planning documents show. About 16% of the total square footage will be allocated for office space, and "4,675-square-feet will be office / retail space, and that will be in the front portion of the building, which is a requirement for self-storage to be allowed in this location. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Convenience Chain Kwik Trip to Open 5 Minnesota Locations, Plans 2026 Expansion
Commercial & Retail  |  Expansion  |  Kwik Trip  |  Renovation
Kwik Trip (La Crosse, Wisc.) has 219 locations throughout Minnesota and is set to open at least five more before the year is up, two of which will open this month. Locations in Moorhead and Baxter have confirmed opening dates within the month, while spots in Maple Plain, Dilworth, and Pine City are confirmed to open before year's end, but without official grand openings. Kwik Trip is also making its entrance into North Dakota. Following its market entry into South Dakota in 2023, the company will open a store in Fargo on November 20th, according to a statement from the gas station and convenience store. That location will use the Kwik-Star brand, a name the chain has also used in Iowa. And at least three locations (Eagan, Sauk Centre, Elk River) are set to open in Fall 2026 and are in the works as well. Earlier this year, the convenience store chain purchased multiple plots in the Eagan and St. Cloud area, according to county records. Construction will begin in the spring. Additionally, Kwik Trip has plans to revamp 17 of its existing stores, including two stores in Rochester and Savage, with the Rochester Kwik Trip planning an expansion of 1,800-square-feet. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Minneapolis Seeks Developer to Revive Historic Cedar-Riverside Site Destroyed By Fire
Affordable Housing  |  Architect  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Energy Efficfiency  |  Healthcare  |  Lighting  |  Mixed Use  |  Recreational  |  Residential  |  Side Remediation  |  Street & Sidewalk Improvements
The city last week issued a request for proposals for developers to rebuild on a 0.2-acre vacant site it owns at 427 Cedar Avenue South. The lot formerly housed the historic Dania Hall, an 1886-build Danish immigrant cultural center that was destroyed by fires in 1991 and 2000 that eventually led to the building's demolition. The city wants the site to have mixed-use development, community ownership, youth and family services, affordability, and more, according to the RFP. Here's a closer look at the city's goals for the site: (1) A mixed-use building, between two-stories and six-stories high, with street-level retail and residential or active uses above that. The city also seeks design elements like balconies and exterior light. (2) Community ownership that could include elements like profits reinvested into the neighborhood, shared decision-making, equity opportunities, and a culturally inclusive community space. (3) Benefits to youth and families, such as uses like social services, mental and health care services, recreation, entrepreneurship, business incubation, a laundromat, and more. (4.) Accessibility and affordability, such as a meeting space for large community gatherings, cooperative workspaces, and owner-occupied workforce housing units. (5) Public safety and sanitation, like accessible travel options for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, and design elements that boost connectivity and safety; and (6) Building energy efficiency and sustainability standards. The site has the potential for buried building debris, ash, or fuel oil tanks due to the previous fires and use of fuel oil for heating the former building, the RFP says. The developer will be required to incorporate an existing mosaic monument, which was designed by community members after the Dania Hall building was destroyed, into the new development in some way. Responses to the RFP are due April 9th. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Taco Bell to Bring New Concept to Minnesota with Lakeville, Rochester Locations
Restaurant
Taco Bell is bringing its latest Kitchen X design prototype to Minnesota. Border Foods, a regional franchisee, is planning to operate Taco Bell in Lakeville and Rochester. Both locations will use the company's Kitchen X design, a modern layout that prioritizes efficiency. In Lakeville, Oppidan Investment Co. (Excelsior) is developing the Taco Bell at the Marketplace at Cedar development near Cedar Avenue and 179th Street West, according to David Daly, who does leasing for the property. He said it's slated to open in the first quarter of 2027. Border Foods (New Hope) is building a nearly 30,000-square-foot location in Rochester's Creekside development near West Circle Drive and 19th Street Northwest. Rochester's Market Update has details on that effort, which could open in Fall 2026. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Bill to Delay Commercial Building Code
Wisconsin Industry News - Commercial Construction  |  Construction Building Code  |  International Building Code  |  Milwaukee  |  Regulatory Reform  |  State Legislation  
The Assembly on October 7th passed Assembly Bill 450, which would push recently adopted state building codes to April 2026. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services adopted new codes this year but delayed enforcement twice, citing feedback from the building industry. The bill "provides much-needed clarity," and will implement the new building code on April 1, 2026, said Rep. William Penterman, during the floor session. The bill is meant to avoid delays for construction projects in the pipeline and clear up confusion with the state licensing agency, he added. The updated commercial building code is based on the 2021 International Building Code, with some adjustments specific to Wisconsin. The proposed bill says that the code would not apply to any "public building, public structure or place of employment" if plans are examined by DSPS or a municipality before April 1, 2026. (Finance & Commerce)
 

OCTOBER 14

Ice Rink and Garden Added to Allianz Field Development Plans
Athletic Facility  |  Landscaping
Developers already building restaurants, offices, and a hotel around St. Paul's Allianz Field announced they've added plans for an outdoor ice skating rink and a flower garden to their project. Bill McGuire, the lead developer and Minnesota United FC's owner, revealed the new features at a neighborhood meeting last week. The rink would be located under an outdoor pavilion that could be used for a farmer's market or other community events in warmer months. The flower garden would be located adjacent to the giant look sculpture, "The Calling." (Axios Twin Cities)
 

OCTOBER 15

33 Small Cities to Receive Grants Totaling $4M
Affordable Housing  |  Greater Minnesota  |  Housing Grants  |  Residential  |  Workforce Housing
Thirty-three cities in Greater Minnesota will be receiving grants from Minnesota Housing that will be used to support workforce and affordable housing needs, according to a press release from the agency. The cities, all of which have fewer than 10,000 people (sometimes called Tier II cities), will receive grants ranging in size from $50,000 to $395,000, the release said. According to Minnesota Housing, the cities receiving aid are in every region of Minnesota, with the exception of the Twin Cities metro. The program is called the Greater Minnesota Small Cities HOusing Aid Grant Program. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Administrative Building Pitched Near Housing Site
Administrative Building  |  Office
About a year after it acquired the property, Trellis Co. is looking to build a small administrative building near an affordable housing site in St. Louis Park, according to city planning documents. The property, dubbed last year Bickham Court, is a 56-unit affordable apartment complex. The administrative building will be a one-story structure in the northwest corner of the complex, spanning 2,640-square-feet of space. The property has staff approval and will go before the St. Louis Park City Council on November 3rd. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Bloomington Breaks Ground on Wellness Center
Breaking Ground - Athletic Facility  |  Playground  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Swimming Pool
The city of Bloomington broke ground on the $101.8-million, 106,000-square-foot Community Health and Wellness Center, located at 9801 Penn Avenue South. It will be the "first and only indoor recreation facility including gyms, fitness areas, aquatics and indoor play that are owned and operated by the city," according to a press release. The facility will include program and event spaces, family-friendly pool and locker rooms, fitness studios and exercise spaces, gymnasiums with bleachers, an indoor playground, a walking and jogging track and more. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Case Engineering Provides Structural Engineering Work on First 3-D Concrete-Printed Starbucks
Around The Country - 3D Printed Concrete  |  Case Engineering  |  Commercial & Retail  |  On-Site Robotics  |  Restaurant  |  Structural Engineering  |  Texas
Case Engineering provided structural engineering, MEP engineering, and drafting on the world's first 3D concrete printed Starbucks in Brownsville, Texas. A key milestone in commercial 3D construction for America's largest coffee company, the innovative project was a collaboration between Starbucks, PERI 3D Construction (Germany), and COBOD International (Denmark), a global leader in 3D construction printing. NewGround (St. Louis, Missouri) was the architect on the project. Opened on May 2, 2025, following a five-month construction schedule, the 1,400-square-foot, grab-n-go Starbucks features a drive-thru lane and walk-up window. Its 3D printed concrete walls were built using a computer-controlled robot arm that poured tube-like concrete layers, one on top of another, to form the building's rectangular footprint. Case's structural design for the building included perimeter concrete columns cantilevered from the foundations at regular spacings to resist high wind loads at the site, which is located near the Gult Coast at the U.S. - Mexico border. (RE Journals)
 

Lutheran Social Service Begins $7.5M Renovation of Century-Old Building
Under Construction - Adaptive Reuse Project  |  Community Services  |  Historical Presevation  |  Historic Renovation  |  Ironmark Building Company  |  Lutheran Social Service  |  Transitional Housing
Lutheran Social Service --- a 160-year-old organization whose mission includes fostering "safe and supportive homes for children" --- recently kicked off a $7.5-million renovation of the building at 709 University Avenue West. The renovation will transform the building, a former car dealership. into the LSS Center for Changing Lives - Frogtown-Rondo. Lutheran Social Service says the center will open in late 2026. Once the renovation is complete, the building will feature 19 transitional housing units for youths experiencing homelessness. Also housed in the building will be services ranging from financial counseling to parent education. The housing will be on the top floor of the two-story, 32,400-square-foot building and the services will be below. Ironmark Building Co. is overseeing the renovation. (Finance & Commerce)
 

OCTOBER 16

Facebook Parent Buys More Land Near Data Center Site in Rosemount
Data Center
An affiliate of Meta Platforms has purchased even more land in Rosemount near where the Facebook parent is developing an $800-million data center. Jimnist LLC, previously identified as a subsidiary of Meta, purchased just over 14-acres along Blaine Avenue off County Road 42 for $5-million, according to an electronic certificate of real estate value filed with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Earlier this year, Jimnist purchased over 200-acres of adjacent and neighboring properties for $70-million. The public filings then showed the planned use as a data center, though a Meta spokesperson said at the time that the company did not have any current plans to build on the land. The site is near Dakota County Technical College and just north of Meta's 715,000-square-foot data center that's under construction. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Plymouth Plaza Set for 195-Unit Redevelopment
Commercial & Retail  |  Demolition  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Residential
A commercial site in Plymouth is a step closer to redevelopment after the city's planning body recommended the project for approval. The site, at the intersection of County Road 6 an 101 and commonly called Plymouth Plaza, received a proposed redevelopment from Marco McLane Development and Mithun Cos. that would bring a 195-unit apartment building to the site. The site currently houses a 65,000-square-foot retail building that will be partially demolished, retaining about 22,000-square-feet of space. On the west side of the land, the apartment building --- which will be in an S-shape --- will be built, while to the northeast side a new commercial building will be constructed. It will spread its 195-units across four-stories. The project will be done in three phases. The first phase involved constructing the new retail space, the second phase would demolish the existing retail and the third would build the apartment property. The apartment property will feature 233 underground parking stalls and another 41 surface stalls. Four corners on the building will be "softened," according to an architect at Tushe Montgomery Architects, as the top top floor will be stair-stepped and set back further than the first three floors. (Finance & Commerce)
 

OCTOBER 17

Concrete Provider Announces New Plant in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Projects - Concrete  |  Construction Supplier  |  Industrial  |  Ready-Mix Concrete  |  Riv/Crete
Ready-mix concrete provider Riv/Crete (Milwaukee, Wisc.) announced the opening of a new batch plant in the Racine area. Company officials said they expect production to begin in November. The new plant, located at 2221 Raymond Avenue in Franksville, was built mainly by Riv/Crete's in-house team over nine months with the help of electrical, plumbing, and steel-erection contractors. The facility will be capable of roughly 225 cubic yards per hour at peak production. The plant will extend Riv/Crete's service area to at least a 45-mile radius around Racine and will support growth farther south of Milwaukee, officials said. The company will partner with local trucking companies and aggregate suppliers, which will strengthen supply chain relationships in the Racine area, officials added. (Finance & Commerce)

Milwaukee Suburb Rejects 35-Acre Solar Project on Initial Review
Wisconsin Projects - Clean Energy  |  Electrical  |  Facility  |  Fencing  |  Germantown  |  Landscaping  |  OneEnergy Development  |  Renewable Energy  |  Solar  |  Solar Farm  
The Village of Germantown Plan Commission voted against a proposal from OneEnergy Development (Seattle, Washington) for a 35-acre solar energy facility at N144 W12531 Pioneer Road. The developer sought a conditional use permit, which will go to the Village Board on November 3rd with an unfavorable mark from the commission. The proposed facility will have solar modules and collection equipment that will deliver power to the grid serving local We Energies customers, plans showed. The facility will have capacity of six megawatts, capable of serving 1,400 households. The project calls for solar modules mounted on a single-axis racking, around 24 inverters to convert electricity for distribution, and transformers. However, their proposal met opposition from a least a dozen residents, TMJ4 reported. Some said they were against the loss of farmland and others said they didn't like how the proposed site looked. If the project gets final approval, construction is expected to take four to six months and will be completed in 2026 or 2027, depending on permits and approvals. (Finance & Commerce)
 

West Broadway Redevelopment Plan Seeks City Approval for First Phase in North Minneapolis
Demolition  |  Facility  |  Manufacturing  |  Mixed-Use  |  Office  |  Warehouse
Developers planning to rebuild parts of north Minneapolis along West Broadway Avenue will seek city approval on the project's first phase. RiverNorth Development Partners (Minneapolis) has submitted a request to amend the city's comprehensive plan to redevelop the properties at 201, 217, and 229 West Broadway Avenue, located off of Interstate 94, according to city documents. The properties currently contain one-story commercial buildings, including the headquarters for developer Master Properties, and a surface parking lot. The buildings would be demolished and the lots combined into one development site. The combined 0.7-acre site would represent the first phase of the developer's larger multi-phased vision for West Broadway, which has been in the works for years, according to a Finance & Commerce report. The developers are now seeking to build a seven-story mixed-use building with uses like office, warehousing and production spaces, city documents show. RiverNorth aims for the development to have small-scale, clean production uses combined with a "workforce ecosystem centered on local hiring, community wealth-building, and cultural belonging," the application states. The new building could span up to 300,000-square-feet. If the comprehensive plan amendment is approved, the developers hope to submit for formal development approvals in early 2026. Construction could start as early as 2027. RiverNorth is working with architect Gensler (Minneapolis) on the project. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)