Brooklyn Center, MN
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Background
The Opportunity Site is an approximately 80-acre area west of Highway 100 and east of Shingle Creek Parkway, between Bass Lake Road and Summit Drive. Planning efforts surrounding its redevelopment began in the early 2000s.
Renewed efforts to re-develop the area began in 2018, and efforts to master plan the area began in 2019. The City explicitly sought to develop a master plan that would provide direct benefits to Brooklyn Center residents, while creating a new model for equitable development. In July 2021, the City Council adopted a Master Plan Framework, which guides the redevelopment of the site and focuses on four core components: stormwater, access and connectivity (transportation), parks and open space, and land use.
The Council adopted the Infrastructure Framework as the proactive, guiding document for infrastructure and land use within the 80-acre Opportunity Site. While the Framework will inform decision making, it was carefully crafted to also be flexible and responsive to opportunities and area needs as they arise. The Council Meeting summary and materials can be viewed here.
In August 2022, City Council approved an approximately 16-acre Phase I redevelopment of the Opportunity Site, as contemplated under Planning Commission Application No. 2022-003. The proposed redevelopment, includes:
- 278-unit multi family residential building (Alatus LLC);
- 205-unit multi family residential building (Alatus LLC);
- 60-unit multi family residential building (Project for Pride in Living and Resurrecting Faith World Ministries);
- Approximately 27,000-square foot conference center, 24-hour childcare center, barber and wellness suites (Resurrecting Faith World Ministries);
- Approximately 20,000-square foot, City-owned Entrepreneurial Market Plaza;
- Flexibilities required to provide three future phases of multi-family residential (of 70, 60, and 70 units, respectively);
- New private street network;
- New public roadway extension, to be located between Shingle Creek Parkway and John Martin Drive; and
- New semi-regional stormwater ponding system, which is anticipated to not only serve the Phase I development, but future redevelopment within the Opportunity Site (approximately 48.9-acre service area)
To learn more on the Phase I redevelopment and process, see the following City Council Work-Session memo's.
City staff and the development team are currently working through some funding challenges at the site. The city is seeking special TIF legislation and working to obtain grant funds to cover the infrastructure needs of the site.
The City is continuing its efforts on the completion of the Opportunity Site Master Plan.