Minneapolis achieved a construction milestone in 2014, when for the first time it issued $2 billion in new building permits in a single year.
The Star Tribune reports that two major projects—a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings NFL team and the city’s Downtown East redevelopment—accounted for about half of the total worth of the permits issued. About one third of the total permits issued were for more than 2,000 housing units, the vast majority of which will be multifamily dwellings.
More than 65% of the new permits were issued for projects in Minneapolis’s Ward 3, which encompasses the North Loop, Downtown East, the downtown riverfront, and northeast Minneapolis.
Doug Kress, the city’s director of development services, told the Star Tribune that the stadium project has sparked development in the surrounding areas. “There’s a lot of growth in Minneapolis in both downtown and our neighborhoods,” he’s quoted as saying. (Minneapolis ranks 16th as a metropolitan region in population in the U.S., with 3.42 million residents.)
This metro is looking for permit growth to continue in 2015. The Star Tribune reports that at least 10 projects around the city have received land-use approval. And portions of the Vikings stadium and Downtown East projects have yet to be permitted.
Mayor Betsy Hodges believes the permitting activity is evidence of a vote of confidence that investors, workers, business owners, and residents are giving to the city’s future. “I look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to attract new residences, businesses, and investment,” she told the Star Tribune.
Related Stories
| Mar 27, 2014
Develop strategic thinkers throughout your firm
In study after study, strategic thinkers are found to be among the most highly effective leaders. But is there a way to encourage routine strategic thinking throughout an organization?
| Mar 27, 2014
16 kitchen and bath design trends for 2014
Work on multifamily housing projects? Here are the top kitchen and bath design trends, according to a survey of more than 420 kitchen and bath designers.
| Mar 26, 2014
A sales and service showcase
High Plains Equipment, a Case IH dealership in Devils Lake, N.D., constructs a larger facility to better serve its customers.
| Mar 26, 2014
Free transit for everyone! Then again, maybe not
An interesting experiment is taking place in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where, for the last year or so, its 430,000 residents have been able to ride the city’s transit lines practically for free. City officials hope to pump up ridership by 20%, cut carbon emissions, and give low-income Tallinnites greater access to job opportunities. But is it working?
| Mar 26, 2014
Callison launches sustainable design tool with 84 proven strategies
Hybrid ventilation, nighttime cooling, and fuel cell technology are among the dozens of sustainable design techniques profiled by Callison on its new website, Matrix.Callison.com.
| Mar 26, 2014
Zaha Hadid's glimmering 'cultural hub of Seoul' opens with fashion, flair [slideshow]
The new space, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, is a blend of park and cultural spaces meant for the public to enjoy.
| Mar 26, 2014
First look: Lockheed Martin opens Advanced Materials and Thermal Sciences Center in Palo Alto
The facility will host advanced R&D in emerging technology areas like 3D printing, energetics, thermal sciences, and nanotechnology.
| Mar 25, 2014
Sydney breaks ground on its version of the High Line elevated park [slideshow]
The 500-meter-long park will feature bike paths, study pods, and outdoor workspaces.
Sponsored | | Mar 25, 2014
Johns Hopkins chooses SLENDERWALL for a critical medical facility reconstruction
After decades of wear, the hand-laid brick envelope of the Johns Hopkins nine-story Nelson/Harvey inpatient facility began failing. SLENDERWALL met the requirements for renovation.
| Mar 25, 2014
World's tallest towers: Adrian Smith, Gordon Gill discuss designing Burj Khalifa, Kingdom Tower
The design duo discusses the founding of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects and the design of the next world's tallest, Kingdom Tower, which will top the Burj Khalifa by as much as a kilometer.