Stories of Big Box Redevelopment Success—After Years of Frustration

The Minneapolis area yields two case studies of troubled sites, home to big box retailers, finally rejoining the community.

2 minute read

November 21, 2015, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Bill Lindeke tells the story of the Lake Street Kmart in Minneapolis, which interrupts the city's most famous street, Nicollet Avenue, on its way to and from downtown.

According to Lindeke, "[The Kmart is] a remnant of desperate times, when Minneapolis tried to bulldoze its way to economic relevance by creating an urban shopping mall. When the original deal fell through, faced with vacant lots, the City Council reluctantly turned to a Kmart proposal that came with a bitter poison pill: replacing one of the city’s key intersections with a massive parking lot straight out of the suburbs."

Such a development presents challenges for "reuse and rehab," according to Lindeke, but he finds examples of redevelopment progress, "after years of struggle and blight," with some examples in Cottage Grove and Minneapolis.

In the Cottage Grove example, a Home Depot in the city's Gateway North area closed eight years ago. For years, the city found it difficult to find a replacement tenant for the building or to redevelop the site. Recently, however, Iowa-based grocer Hy-Vee has been announced as the new tenant in the 116,000-square-foot building. Lindeke offers more details on the difficulties in finding a new tenant, which even involved an episode with the mayor of the city stopping just short of calling for a boycott of Home Depot.

Meanwhile, back at the Lake Street Kmart in Minneapolis, Peter Callaghan recently reported progress for conditions at that location, when city officials approved a $5.3 million purchase of some of the site. Another purchase option for the rest of site is expected soon. Callaghan's coverage of that development pitches the purchase as a chance to reconnect Nicollet Avenue.

Thursday, November 12, 2015 in MinnPost

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.