Woodbury City Council Approves ‘City Place’ Redevelopment Project

By Ioana Neamt, Associate Editor

Woodbury city officials recently approved the redevelopment of the abandoned State Farm Insurance headquarters in the Gateway District. The City Place redevelopment project is the result of a joint effort by Kraus-Anderson and Florida-based Elion Partners. Minneapolis-based RSP Architects handled the project master plan. Located at Interstate 94 and Radio Drive, the 100-acre property will undergo a total transformation into a high-end mixed-use urban community.

Kraus-Anderson and Elion Partners intend to add 700,000 square feet of space to the existing site, including retail stores, multifamily buildings, restaurants, a bank, medical facilities and additional office space. North Dakota-based TMI Hospitality is also expected to build a new 116-room Residence Inn hotel on the property, according to Twin Cities Business.

“This property has tremendous potential, and we’re excited for this development to evolve into another cornerstone of economic growth for the city of Woodbury,” city mayor Mary Guliani Stephens told the press back in May.

The approved redevelopment project will also include a lake, a park and a network of pedestrian trails. According to Twin Cities Business, the Woodbury City Council approved a rezoning to allow the construction of retail on the former State Farm property. The site was previously zoned for office use only.

“From the beginning, we have worked closely with the city of Woodbury to bring out the best of this prime location to complement the strong attributes the city has to offer,” said Shlomo Khoudari, Elion Partners managing principal, in a news release. “The natural landscape and thoughtful public realms will tie the common areas together into a visually interconnected experience, which will be pleasing to the office and retail patrons as well as to the Woodbury community.”

Kraus-Anderson is also expected to build a new 80,000-square-foot headquarters in downtown Minneapolis. According to Twin Cities Business, the new building will be located at the corner of Eighth Street South and Fifth Avenue South. The estimated cost for the construction is $16 million and is expected to be finalized in fall 2015.

Rendering courtesy of Elion Partners