The next phase of Minneapolis's urban development is taking shape with the New Nicollet Redevelopment project, opening its doors for innovative proposals. The City is inviting developers to think outside the box for Phase 1, focusing on the southeastern corner of the intersection at Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street—a site many remember as the former stomping grounds of Kmart. Interested parties can find further details and requirements on the City of Minneapolis website.
With a looming deadline of Jan. 6, 2026, submissions must be in by 4 p.m., and there's a specific process to follow; all proposals need to traverse the digital realm of SharePoint, requests for access kickstarting via an online form, following which a project folder materializes for uploading and storing relevant documents, ensuring everything is neatly in place for evaluation. The full roster of RFP attachments, including the pivotal Salas O’Brien geothermal site feasibility study, is now up for grabs for perusal on the RFP webpage.
There's historical weight to this 10-acre redevelopment, tracing back to a three-year planning process, culminating in May 2025 when city leadership gave the green light to the New Nicollet Development Framework, a plan steeped in over 20,000 community interactions. According to the City's announcement, all development proposals "must align with this vision," ensuring whatever rises from these plans is in harmony with the community's aspirations.
The first wave of construction for Phase 1 is set to bring a dynamic blend of components to the Minneapolis urban fabric, featuring affordable housing, which is ever more critical, storefronts at street level for retail and nonprofits, and even indoor space designated for park programming—each facet designed to breathe new life into this corner of the city. With the developers' imagination being the only real boundary, it will be interesting to watch what transformative ideas will be put forth to shape the future of Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street.
