48-Acre Mega-Development Taking Shape on Minneapolis Waterfront

"On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council will vote on a massive plan to turn 48 acres of riverfront land into housing, businesses and an outdoor performance venue," reports Jessica Lee. "The project — the Upper Harbor Terminal — is city officials’ No. 1 construction priority right now."

With the City Council's vote forthcoming, Lee digs into details of the project, which is considered "critical" to the city's economic development plans. The site housed a barge shipping terminal until fears of invasive carp forced the facility to close in 2014.

The project site is surrounded by a federal Promise Zone and a city Green Zone. The surrounding residential areas are defined by median household incomes below the city and regional average.

The City Council will consider the project's "General Land-Use Concept" on Friday, which lays the groundwork for more detailed design and planning work to follow.

Lee provides additional details about the funding challenges facing the project, as well as the tough political path the plan had to arrive at this point in its evolution.