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.
 

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)
 

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)
 

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)
 

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)
 

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)
 

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)
 

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)