Investment grows to more than $8 billion along existing, future LRT lines

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Developers are increasingly choosing to invest along light rail transit (LRT), as witnessed by the $8.4 billion in reported new investments along existing and future LRT lines in the Twin Cities metro region. That’s an increase of $1.6 billion in just a year.

The Metropolitan Council tracks developments proposed, under construction or completed along the METRO Green and Blue Lines, as well as the proposed Green and Blue Line Extension LRT projects (Southwest LRT and Bottineau LRT). As of the end of January 2018, total development is at least $8.4 billion, and likely even higher, given that many developments along the routes have not publicly disclosed their project value.*

“This new report documents some of the many positive impacts of light rail transit investments. Light rail reduces congestion, connects Minnesotans to jobs and educational opportunities, and supports private sector investment in our communities,” said Governor Mark Dayton. “Minnesota must continue making smart, strategic investments in transit infrastructure. Doing so will strengthen our economy and make our communities even better places to live.”

“In the past year alone, we have seen an increase of $1.6 billion for a total of $8.4 billion in development along LRT lines,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. “Businesses and developers choose proximity to light rail because they know that residents and workers of all ages are increasingly demanding access to transit – whether for housing, work, school, or entertainment.”

Timberland Partners is among the new developers, adding 599 housing units immediately adjacent to light rail in a trio of projects at both ends and in the middle of the Green Line/Green Line Extension. 

And you can be sure the company will tout proximity to light rail in its marketing materials, said Ryan Sailer, Timberland Partners vice president of development, who disputes skepticism of the LRT effect on development.

“While you may not be able to attribute all development along the LRT to the LRT itself, the LRT has been a key driver in how cities look at redevelopment in terms of density, efficiency, housing affordability and creating cohesive development. Without the LRT, I don’t believe we would be seeing the activity, scale or diversity in projects we are currently seeing proposed and built by developers,” Sailer said.

Timberland Partners’ Green Line projects are its $61 million Elevate apartment/retail mixed-income project at SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie, its $40 million 333 on the Park luxury rental development in Lowertown St. Paul and its $56 million Green on Fourth mixed-income development adjacent to Prospect Park Station in Minneapolis. 

Light rail has an undeniable economic impact, agreed David Wellington, director of acquisitions and development for Wellington Management, which has projects along the Green and Blue lines.

“There is clear and irrefutable evidence of this. We developed mixed-use properties along these lines, and it has turned into a place where people can live and have access to employment. I can say we would not have built our Lake Street Station building if the light rail line was not there,” Wellington said. 

The planned Southwest line has drawn attention to areas ripe for redevelopment, said Julie Wischnack, the city of Minnetonka’s planning director.  

“We had parts of our community that flew under the radar, like Opus. Now with light rail coming, it’s allowing people and developers to see other areas that may have gone unnoticed,” Wischnack said. “At its basic level, Opus was ready for redevelopment. When you add mass transit to the formula, it takes that redevelopment to the next level.”

Experienced developers who have developed projects close to existing LRT lines have already been inquiring about sites along the proposed Blue Line Extension in Brooklyn Park, said Kim Berggren, Brooklyn Park’s community development director. 

“Our businesses and educational institutions, including North Hennepin Community College, recognize the importance that the next generation of workers places on access to frequent transit service. The Blue Line Extension will give Brooklyn Park a competitive advantage in attracting young talent. Design Ready Controls and Takeda Pharmaceuticals are two of our businesses who cite the Blue Line Extension as a reason for locating in Brooklyn Park,” Berggren said.

Connecting workers to jobs

There are already 64,300 jobs within one-half mile of the 15 planned Southwest LRT stations and another 16,600 jobs are expected to be added by 2035. Once completed, Southwest LRT will connect workers to job centers such as:

  • Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital

  • Downtown Hopkins

  • Opus Business Park

  • Optum corporate headquarters

  • Golden Triangle Business Park

  • Eden Prairie Center shopping mall.

 Three of Minnesota’s 17 Fortune 500 companies are located on the Southwest line:

  • CH Robinson

  • SuperValu

  • UnitedHealth Group

  • Another six Fortune 500 companies are on the existing LRT lines in downtown Minneapolis.

The Blue Line Extension has 16,200 jobs within one-half mile of its 11 planned new stations and is expected to grow to 20,800 jobs along the route. Target, another Fortune 500 company, has its Northern Campus in Brooklyn Park as a major job center on the line. 

Development highlights along individual LRT corridors

Green Line: $5.8 billion in development, with more than half outside downtown Minneapolis

The Met Council has tallied $5.8 billion in development announced, under construction or already built along the Green Line, up from the previously reported $5.1 billion in January 2017. More than half of that growth ($2.908 billion) has occurred outside downtown Minneapolis. The other half ($2.871 billion) has occurred along the mile of track with five stations shared by the Blue Line in downtown Minneapolis. Development highlights include mixed-income housing around the Minneapolis-St. Paul border between the Prospect Park and Raymond Avenue stations and general economic revitalization along the eastern end of University Avenue.

Southwest: More than $1 billion worth of development

The Southwest LRT Project, which will begin construction in 2018 and open in 2023, has experienced more than $1 billion in development announced, under construction or built, up from $515 million reported in January 2017. Highlights include a mix of projects around the planned West Lake Street Station in Minneapolis, the recently opened Moline apartments adjacent to the Downtown Hopkins Station, the $60 million Mariner apartment project planned near Opus Station in Minnetonka and the $61 million apartment/retail mixed income Elevate project at SouthWest Station in Eden Prairie.

Blue Line: More than $1 billion in development

Development along the region’s first line, the METRO Blue Line, is valued at a little more than $1 billion as compiled for only 24 of the 41 projects tracked on the non-shared portion of that corridor in south Minneapolis and Bloomington. The actual value of development along this line is higher because the Met Council began tracking investments only in the last year and what information was originally reported is outdated or incomplete. Projects completed along this line in 2017 include the Richard A. Brustad Homes at the VA Medical Center Station in Minneapolis and Millworks Lofts at 38th Street Station in Minneapolis. 

Blue Line Extension: More than half a billion dollars worth of development

Planned and recent development along the Blue Line Extension tallies up to $522 million in investment, up from $489 million reported in January 2017. Commercial, industrial and hotel development is occurring north of Interstates 94/694 to Highway 610 at the line’s northernmost point. Projects under construction on the Blue Line Extension include the approximately $16 million 610 Commerce Center phase 2 and the $16 million Capstone II office/industrial buildings, both near the 93rd Avenue Station in Brooklyn Park, and the $8 million Brooklyn Boulevard Industrial Center near Brooklyn Boulevard Station.
The Blue Line Extension Project will connect downtown Minneapolis to the northwest suburbs.

 
Development projects within one-half mile of light rail transit stations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area
*Staff compiled data reported by developers about recently completed developments and projects that are under construction or design. Data also includes higher figures for previously reported projects whose development costs increased as projects advanced. The $8.4 billion figure represents only projects whose value is known. For example, the value has been publicly reported for only 24 of the 41 projects tracked on the Blue Line, which opened in 2004, so the actual figure would be higher than $8.4 billion. Staff did not include figures for TCF Bank Stadium, Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium, CHS Field or Allianz Field.  
 
 

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