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From multiple strong Bloomington development prospects to a proposed reimagining of the I-94 trench and Mortenson's CEO announcing his official retirement later this year to the demolition of a commercial building in Milwauke to make way for a new hotel, here's what was buzzing in the building world the week of September 2-6, 2024:
 

SEPTEMBER 2

Bloomington has multiple sites with strong development prospects
The International Bureau of Expositions dealt a blow to Bloomington last year when it passed on the south metro city's bid to host the 2027 Expo. Though unwelcome, the outcome wasn't the end of the world for Minnesota's fourth-largest city. The city is left with developable sites near compelling amenities, especially in the South Loop district, the mixed-use area south of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that hosts the Mall of America, several hotels and apartment communities, a number of corporate offices, and dozens of acres of undeveloped and underutilized land. Each of these areas --- and Bloomington's ongoing work to attract new employers amid a prolonged slowdown for the office and retail sectors --- will play a role as the largely built-out city writes its next chapter. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Largest U.S. dam removal project nears completion
For the first time in more than a century, salmon will soon have free passage along the Klamath River and its tributaries --- a major watershed near the California-Oregon border --- as the largest dam removal project in U.S. history nears completion. Crews started using excavators last week to break rock dams that have been diverting water upstream of two dams that were already almost completely removed, Iron Gate and Copco No. 1. The work will allow the river to flow freely in its historic channel, giving salmon a passageway to key swaths of habitat just in time for the fall Chinook, or king salmon, spawning season. (Finance & Commerce)
 

SEPTEMBER 3

Ex-Knutson employee says company pushed workers to lie about race on forms
A former concrete worker with Knutson Construction has filed a discrimination claim against the Minneapolis-based company, alleging among other things that she was abruptly fired after refusing to lie about her race on an Equal Employment Opportunity form. (Finance ;& Commerce)
 

Lakeville considers rezoning church land to add in twin homes
The Lakeville Planning Commission will consider rezoning a church property at its August 29th meeting to allow a 24-unit twin home project in the northeastern part of the city. Before the commission is an amendment to the comprehensive plan to move from a low-density designation to a low / medium density designation, as well as a rezoning request from a single family resident district to a single and two-family district. The 24-units would be spread out across 12 buildings. The twin homes will be owner-occupied, which is mostly reflective of townhome developments in Lakeville. The homes will be between 1,300-square-feet and 1,600-square-feet, according to planning documents, which includes a two-car garage. (Finance & Commerce)
 

St. Croix National Golf & Event Center undergoes $7M renovation
So far, the club's owner, Kristine Botelho, has completed two out of three phases of the renovation project, located in Somerset, Wisconsin. Phase One included adding a $400,000 mini-golf course, designed by Spicewood, Texas-based Pelz Golf, along with a $5-million renovation and extension of the clubhouse, and the construction of a new $1-million patio. The clubhouse renovation more than quadrupled its space, to 8,000-square-feet, and added a full restaurant, patio, golf simulators, pool and dart boards. Phase Two was the construction of a new year-round $1-million event center, complete with a private courtyard and the capacity for 250 people. Phase Three will introduce two pickleball courts, wintertime bike trails, and ongoing improvements to the golf course. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Sustainable: Proposal reimagines I-94 trench
Our Streets, an advocacy organization best known for once running Open Streets, envisions a new I-94 with a 6-mile trench from downtown St. Paul to Minneapolis removed and filled to create a boulevard for housing, parks, offices, and retail. Other cities, including Oakland, California; Montreal; and Rochester, New York; have embarked on similar projects for portions of their freeways. Nor is I-94 the only highway that could undergo significant change. MnDOT has been rethinking Olson Memorial Highway and making it appealing for pedestrians, bikers, and transit riders. The report showcased the environmental and development potential of transitioning the I-94 corridor to an at-grade boulevard. Developed by Visible City with assistance from Toole Design Group and Smart Mobility, the study suggest a boulevard would open 366-acres of right-of-way and create the potential for housing, parks, and commercial nodes. (Finance & Commerce)
 

SEPTEMBER 4

700-unit development proposed for ''significantly underhoused' Wisconsin village
Board Companies presented plans for the Inspire Prairie Springs development at 11423 110th Street at a village board meeting. The developer called for tax increment financing assistance from the village and said the project would cost around $184.9-million. The project site is near Interstate-94 by the recently completed Haribo factory, the Uline corporate park and Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets. The developer showed plans for at least eight buildings across 66-acres which will be built in two phases. Amenities include a clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts, playground, putting ground, dog run and a one-mile walking path. The apartments will be a mix ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Alliance Housing announces project groundbreaking
Construction began on the Kyle Square Garden conversion project after a groundbreaking that took place on September 5th, according to a press release from Alliance Housing, which owns the property. The building that is being converted is at 700 10th Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis. Built in 1941, the property will become 28 one-bedroom units and 31 studio apartments for people who have experienced homelessness. The total cost of the project is about $25-million, according to the press release, with funding coming from Minnesota Housing, the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, and others. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Eagan considers change to make ay for veteran housing
A comprehensive guide plan amendment that would change land owned by Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan from quasi-public to medium density residential was considered and eventually approved by the Eagan City Council at its September 4th meeting. The guide plan amendment paves the way for 26-units of residential townhomes across six one-story buildings to be constructed on property at 3920 Rahn Road. The 26-unit development will be reserved for veterans, and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, or MACV, would provide support services for residents, according to planning commission testimony. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Kraus-Anderson finishes Blooming Prairie school renovation
The construction company announced its Rochester office had wrapped on a $34-million renovation for the Blooming Prairie Public Schools expansion of their elementary and high school buildings. The expansions spans 79,000-square-feet and brings new classrooms on board at the high school, as well as an auditorium, gym additions and further interior renovations, according to a press release from the construction group. The entire timeline of construction took just over two years, having originally started in June 2022. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Kraus-Anderson wraps $28.5-million school construction project in Minnesota
Kraus-Anderson Duluth has completed construction on North Star Elementary, located at 411 South 5th Avenue. in Virginia, Minnesota. Sited on a large city block that formerly housed the district's elementary and high school, North Star Elementary stands at three stories tall, minimizing its building footprint and reclaiming greenspace --- a longstanding desire of the surrounding community. (RE Journals)
 

Milwaukee County seeks federal funds for airport concourse reconstruction
The county wants to demolish Concourse E at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, which has been closed since 2017, and replace it with a larger terminal with more passenger capacity. Airport officials said the project would cost around $80-million and solicited a package of bids over the summer. The project has been in planning since 2016 and was shovel ready in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction could start in 2025. Before the pandemic, the airport shared plans for a 50,000-square-foot international concourse split into two phase: one with a two-gate facility and a second with new gate seating space and additional arrival and departure gates. The current international terminal was built in 1975 with around 23,000-swuare-feet of space. Passengers must either shuttle or take a lengthy walk to reach the detached terminal from the main terminal or parking garage. (Finance & Commerce)
 

SEPTEMBER 5

Biden promotes rural electrification funding for Wisconsin
President Joe Biden planned to visit Westby in southwest Wisconsin to announce $7.3-billion in investments for 16 cooperatives that will provide electricity for rural areas across 23 states. The intent is to bring down the cost of badly needed electricity connections in hard-to-reach areas. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Dakota County CDA pays $6.25M for former Delta site in Eagan
The Dakota County Community Development Agency wants to do its part to bring new housing to a former airline data center site in Eagan, a key property within an area that could eventually hold more than 1,000 new dwelling units and other fresh uses as part of a major redevelopment push. A Dakota County CDA official told Finance & Commerce that the plan is to demolish the data center, clear the site, and eventually build new housing there in line with the city's plans. Based on a redevelopment analysis, the city envisions up to 1,100 new homes and other uses on the data center property and adjacent sites. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Johnson to retire as M.A. Mortenson CEO, Cunz to take over
The company announced September 5th that Dan Johnson's last day as CEO will be December 31st, though he will continue to serve on the company's board of directors. Taking over for Johnson will be current Mortenson President Derek Cunz, who will begin his new duties on January 1, 2025, according to a press release. (Finance & Commerce)
 

M.A. Mortenson CEO Dan Johnson retiring
M.A. Mortenson Co.'s CEO, Dan Johnson is retiring at the end of 2024 after nearly eight years leading the Golden Valley, Minnesota-based construction company. The retirement is part of a long-planned leadership transition at Mortenson. Johnson will be succeeded by current president Derek Cunz, who was promoted to that role in 2022 and, starting in 2025, will serve as president and CEO. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Roseville weighs $77M government campus funded by sales tax
Voters in Roseville will decide this fall on a half-cent sales tax that would go toward construction of a $77-million civic campus for city buildings. The plan, called Invest in Roseville, would add a new public works maintenance facility and a license and passport center at Lexington Avenue and Woodhill Drive. The new facilities would replace current buildings that date back to the 1950s. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Wisconsin groups pitch $133M plan to restore the Mitchell Park Domes
The Friends of the Domes, Milwaukee County Parks and Madison-based The Alexander Company presented plans to restore existing dome structures, expand the gift shop, create a children's learning space, build a new cafe, a new courtyard and construct a nature learning center. The project would also bring improvements to Mitchell Park. The Friends of the Domes' project is split into two phases: The first phase is budgeted at $107.4-million and includes expanding the gift shop, creating the "Little Sprouts Dome" learning center in the fourth dome and building a new cafe. The second phase includes a new courtyard and early plans for a 25,000-square-foot, two-story learning center building. The second phase is budgeted at $26-million. (Finance & Commerce)
 

SEPTEMBER 6

Bloomington panel recommends approval of Southtown plans
The commission signed off on preliminary development plans and other approvals the evening of September 5th for the proposed 120,000-square-foot sports-themed store, which will anchor a partial redevelopment of the Southtown Shopping Center at Penn Avenue and Interstate-494. Included in the Dick's House of Sport project is an 18,000-square-foot outdoor athletic field on the north side of the shopping center. New development will rise on lots previously occupied by the now-demolished Toys 'R' Us and Herberger's at Southtown. Besides the two-story Dick's House of Sport, future development could bring a medical office building with structured parking and multi-family housing with grade-level retail and restaurant uses, according to a project narrative. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Construction begins on long-sought dog park in downtown Milwaukee
Officials from Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District #21 and the Historic Third Ward Business Improvement District #2 broke ground on a nearly 22,000-square-foot first-of-its-kind turf park for large and small canines. Butler-based Berghammer Construction is the general contractor for the $2-million project and officials expect the project to be completed before the end of the year. The park will have fenced areas for big and small dogs, a washing system for the turf, and new lighting at 103 West Clybourn Street underneath the Interstate-794 Freeway. Fromm Family Pet Food is the title sponsor of the dog park and is planning to build a brewery close to the site. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Construction ramps up on new police precinct [Download] 
Construction has begun on Minneapolis Police Department's planned First Precinct police station at downtown Minneapolis' Century Plaza site. However, the timeline for the planned conversion of a major portion of the property into a hotel is still unclear. Demolition work is largely complete at the location of the planned precinct, which is expected to open by the first quarter of 2025. The First Precinct is now located in leased space at 10 North Fourth Street. Last month, city officials issues a permit to Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos. US Inc. for the buildout of a police station at the site, located at the corner of South 11th Street and Third Avenue. Swervo Development Corp. won city approval in 2022 to convert part of the property into a 213,000-square-foot hotel with 149-rooms and about 11,000-square-feet of rooftop amenity space. The First Precinct would occupy about 37,000-square-feet in another part of the building. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal  |  Revisit article published on August 29, 2024)
 

Dakota County buys former Delta property at fraction of 2013 price
The county paid $6.25-million for 1500 Towerview Road, according to a real estate value published. The site, which includes a 150,000-squre-foot data center building, was last sold by Delta Air Lines to Digital Realty in 2013 for $37-million in a sale-leaseback deal. Delta has since vacated the property, and Dakota County wants the site as part of an effort to stimulate housing construction. Finance & Commerce talked with officials at the county's CDA, who said the building will be demolished to clear the site for eventual housing, (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Demolition of commercial building to make way for Milwaukee hotel
Lannon-based HM Brandt applied for a permit to raze a nearly 12,000-square-foot commercial building at 1709 North Farwell Avenue, according to city records. In April, Brookfield-based Klein Development gained approval from the Milwaukee Common Council to rezone for an 11-story, 130-room hotel at 1709-1723 North Farwell Avenue. The hotel, still unnamed, will be the first upscale hotel of its kind in the area and replace the two-story building known as Farwell Point. The hotel will come with aa on-site parking stalls and 59 stalls in a lot off-site, which is required by the zoning change. No building permits have been filed yet for hotel construction. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Ex-MLB pitcher Jim Brower seeks to expand baseball-training business to Plymouth
Former Major League Baseball player and Minnetonka native Jim Brower is seeking to expand his baseball-training business with a 32,000-squre-foot facility in Plymouth, The proposed facility would allow Brower Baseball to serve more players and reach more communities, including Hampel, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. The facility is proposed to be located within Plymouth's Jet 55 Corporate Center, a 564,504-square0foot building at 12755 Highway 55. If everything goes according to plan, Brower hopes to open the facility this winter. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Riverview Corridor rolls to a close with no streetcar, and no bus
After some eight years of debate, Ramsey County officials have canceled planning for the Riverview Corridor, a potential streetcar to connect downtown St. Paul to the Mall of America in Bloomington. The 12-mile corridor had drawn increasingly vocal opposition from property owners along West Seventh Street, including many who raised concerns about crime and public safety or said businesses that had barely re-emerged from the pandemic would not survive two years or more of heavy construction. (Yahoo! News)