The Minneapolis Cityscape is about to receive a transformation beginning with the New Nicollet Development Project, kicking off a re-envisioning process for the former Kmart site at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue, after the City unveiled a request for proposals (RFP) on October 6, according to the City of Minneapolis. Touted as a community-centered transformation, the initiative puts forth an open call for visionary developers to submit their pitches by January 6, with the ambition to weave together affordable housing, retail, and nonprofit services with green spaces and parkland, in a concerted effort to create a more cohesive neighborhood dynamic.
Interested developers have the opportunity to delve into the RFP details during a virtual Q&A session hosted by City staff on October 14, an initiative aimed at clarifying queries and ensuring proposers are well-informed; attendance isn't mandatory but likely beneficial. RSVP to request the meeting link if mulling over a foray into this urban revitalization effort. Meanwhile, the community-driven aspect of the project is further bolstered by efforts to forge partnerships between developers and nonprofits, a connection fostered by a designated networking event on October 22, organized by the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and Whittier Alliance, where RSVP is similarly encouraged but remains optional, echoing the collaborative ethos the City is aiming for with this development.
It's been a journey to this point, with the New Nicollet Development Framework receiving the green light from the Mayor and City Council back in May 2025, the culmination of a three-year planning process and over 20,000 interactions with the community, as per the City's website. Phase 1's success hinges on aligning with this carefully crafted vision, ensuring that the future mixed-use buildings will not only meet housing and retail needs but also community and recreational demands, underpinned by a strong conviction to serve the neighborhood's greater good.
The push for more green spaces hasn't gone unnoticed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), which had previously set its sights on additional parkland in the Southwest Parks Plan adopted in 2020; this plan marks the New Nicollet site as a target for expansion within the Whittier neighborhood's "park search area". This initiative is more than a mere blueprint; it's a concerted effort—since discussions began in 2021 between the City and MPRB—to integrate new parkland into the urban fabric of Minneapolis, as both entities share a vision for a collaborative park-making process, per details from the MPRB's official communications. This shared vision sets the stage for a groundbreaking yet harmonious urban development that could well redefine community integration in Minneapolis.
