The City of Minneapolis unveiled its vision for the New Nicollet Redevelopment project in downtown Minneapolis at an open house Tuesday.
A year after its demolition, the former Kmart site will serve as a new opportunity to reconnect the neighborhoods of south Minneapolis by creating a walkable area with new small businesses, affordable housing and a park.
The redevelopment will span around 10 acres between the Midtown Greenway trail, First Avenue, Blaisdell Avenue and Lake Street. During the open house on Tuesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said this vision has been “decades in the making.”
“For far too long, this space has separated our communities rather than united them, and this community-driven process is bringing them back together,” Frey said. “Opening it up with people, a park, and public realm improvements will drive life into a place that everyone will want to be.”
Council Member Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10) said at the open house that she is committed to making residents’ visions and voices clear in the development.
“Residents are at the center of the New Nicollet Redevelopment project, which is a generational investment in our community,” Chughtai said. “Thousands of residents have offered their feedback as part of the extensive community engagement guiding the project.”
The plan for the space was guided by input from community members through many events, survey responses and interactions, the New Nicollet Redevelopment website said.
General community feedback for the site showed support for adding affordable housing and alleviating commercial needs, the website said. The proposed development includes townhomes as well as the development of a grocery store and other businesses.
The redesign of this site has been underway since August 2022 when the city began gathering community feedback. The city then created design concepts for the public spaces based on the feedback, and the next phase identified the main goals of the project and any potential future projects.
The project team will seek approval for the design from the City Council and Frey this spring, with construction slated to begin in late 2025, according to a press release.
During the press conference, Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Director Erik Hansen said community voices are a big part of this project.
“The New Nicollet Redevelopment is a testament to the power of inclusive, community-driven planning,” Hansen said. “Thanks to the dedication of our planning staff and the thousands of residents who shared their ideas, we are creating a vision that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people who live and work in this area.”
The project is a collaborative effort between several nonprofits and city departments, according to the Redevelopment Framework document. The project is led by Minneapolis Public Works, the new creation and design of a park is being done by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and the redevelopment of the private sector in the area is led by the Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development.
Whittier Alliance partnered with the city to help gather community feedback for the project. Anna Schmitz, the executive director of Whittier Alliance, said local community organizations are driving the project’s framework.
“It’s exciting to see the results of that engagement in this development framework and, crucially, we know that engagement work can’t stop here,” Schmitz said. “We look forward to continuing to bring community members to the table as this project continues to move forward.”
