The Development Tracker Minneapolis

A building tied to one of Minneapolis’ most difficult chapters is being reshaped for a very different future.

The former Third Precinct building at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue is planned to become the Minneapolis Democracy Center, a new civic-focused space centered around voting access, elections, and community connection.

The project would turn a long-vacant public building into a place where residents can cast ballots, access election services, and connect with community partners. It’s a major shift for a site that has carried years of public attention, debate, and uncertainty.

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[MINNEAPOLIS] MPHA has selected a new-construction direction for Glendale Townhomes in Prospect Park.

The plan would replace the existing 184 homes and add 100 more, bringing Glendale to 284 federally subsidized homes for low-income individuals and families.

The redevelopment would include townhomes, three-story walk-ups, and four-story elevator buildings, adding new accessibility options across the site. PICA Head Start and the food shelf are also planned to remain on the property.

Because Glendale is home to current residents, relocation is a major part of what comes next. MPHA says one-on-one household meetings, moving-cost coverage, and the federally protected right to return are part of the plan as financing, design work, public approvals, and additional resident engagement move ahead.

We broke down what is currently known, including the site layout, building types, unit mix, relocation details, and anticipated timeline.

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One of the things that’s always made Minneapolis’ skyline feel a little different is what you don’t see.

For decades, the city has been pretty selective about allowing building signage high on downtown towers. That’s what makes a recent approval at U.S. Bank Plaza notable.

Two new halo-lit U.S. Bank signs have been approved near the top of the building’s north tower. The signs will face north and east and sit approximately 465 feet above grade, just below the roofline of the 40-story tower.

While this isn’t something we see often in Minneapolis, it isn’t entirely new.

RBC Gateway was approved for signage at approximately 484 feet above grade, while Wells Fargo’s Downtown East towers received approval for signage roughly a decade ago at around 200 feet above grade.

Now, U.S. Bank Plaza joins that group.

The approval comes as U.S. Bank continues renovations to the Plaza and consolidates employees from multiple downtown locations into the complex.

Taken on its own, it’s a relatively small change. In the broader context of downtown Minneapolis, it’s another example of how the city’s approach to skyline signage has gradually evolved over the last decade.

The Tyler Street project is back, and yeah…the exterior looks pretty different now.

Updated plans for the Passive House apartment building were recently approved, and the latest version trades the lighter palette from earlier plans for darker tones and a revised material mix across the building.

The overall project hasn’t changed much in size or layout, but the updated design gives a noticeably different feel from what was previously shown. In our latest Project Brief, we included images from both versions of the proposal and walked through the changes as the project moves closer to construction.

Swipe to see the updated design followed by the earlier version for comparison.

More details at the link in bio.