Redevelopment projects expected to create and retain 168 full-time jobs The Metropolitan Council has awarded five Livable Communities grants totaling $2.26 million to help three cities investigate and clean up polluted sites for redevelopment. These grants fund projects that put land back into the tax base and create jobs and affordable housing. “Assisting communities to clean up polluted land for redevelopment helps meet regional goals related to equity, community health, and a thriving economy,” said Lisa Barajas, “as well as strengthens the local economy and creates affordable housing opportunities.” The Met Council makes two rounds of polluted-site cleanup grants each year; this is the second of the 2024 grant cycle. A total of $5 million was available in 2024. Funds not expended in this cycle will be available for future projects. The awarded projects are as follows. Contamination Investigation Wakota Crossing, South St. Paul. The $44,000 award will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and develop a response action plan for a 36-acre commercial site with a service garage, filling station, storage yard, and other facilities with several potential contaminants of concern. The site is proposed for redevelopment of 400,000 square feet of industrial space in 3 new buildings. Seeding Equitable Environmental Development 2211 Broadway Street NE, Minneapolis. The $251,600 grant will be used to fund activities to protect potential new tenants in the building on a 2.8-acre industrial site from contaminants that exist in the soil vapor below the building. These activities will help prepare the site for redevelopment. Contamination Cleanup Cheatham Apartments, Minneapolis. The $1,326,500 grant will be used to demolish and dispose of asbestos-coated grain silos, sample soil vapor, and other activities to ready the site for redevelopment. Proposed at the site are 79 affordable apartments and 139 market-rate apartments with 3,000 square feet of commercial space. Rise Up Center, Minneapolis. The $274,500 grants will be used for environmental investigation, including soil vapor sampling; asbestos abatement; and other clean-up activities. The proposed redevelopment will renovate an existing building into a 69,000-square-foot workforce development center and multi-tenant commercial space. 42 Water Street West, Saint Paul. The $364,200 grant will be used for soil remediation, soil vapor mitigation, and related environmental activities. The proposed redevelopment will partially demolish and then renovate the remaining portion of an existing building into a commercial fitness facility, along with stormwater management and right-of-way improvements. The redevelopment at the three contamination cleanup sites is expected to result in a total of 168 full-time-equivalent jobs and add more than $192,000 to the property tax base. To be eligible and compete for Livable Communities funding, metro area local governments must participate in the Livable Communities program. In 2025, 77 cities and 1 township are participating in the program. Posted In: Communities