Hennepin County anchors transit-friendly development in South Minneapolis

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Contacts 
Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County Commissioner, 612-348-7884
Sharlene Shelton, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health, 612-348-4831
Michael Noonan, Hennepin County Public Works, 612-348-8537 
Carolyn MarinanHennepin County Communications, 612-348-5969

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Hennepin County anchors transit-friendly development in south Minneapolis

Hennepin County Human Service Center
Rendering of the south Minneapolis human service center with retail space and transit plaza. Gray structures at left indicate a future phase of the development.


A November 2 groundbreaking ceremony for a transit village development in south Minneapolis marks a milestone for two key Hennepin County initiatives: making services more accessible to residents and maximizing existing transit assets. 

The groundbreaking will be held Monday November 2 at 10 a.m. at the project site, near the southeast corner of Lake Street and 22nd Avenue SouthThe event is open to the public. Get more information.

The county’s newest human service center will anchor the transit village, located adjacent to the METRO Blue Line’s Lake Street/Midtown light rail transit station and several Lake Street bus routes. The development also encompasses a transit plaza, more than 500 residences, retail space, parking, and a public gathering space that will serve as a permanent home for the Midtown Farmers Market. 

Making services convenient

The south Minneapolis human service center is the sixth in a series of projects that decentralize services beyond downtown Minneapolis. The initiative aims to make access to county resources more convenient for residents by locating them in areas where they live, work and attend school.  

"Putting these services into communities gives them added value for the residents who need them," said Hennepin County Board Chair Jan Callison. "As we work to help the people in our neighborhoods, we also want to continue efforts to be more effective and more efficient. This plan does both." 

Maximizing the value of transit

The project also helps the county fulfill a longstanding mission to create and sustain places that build the long-term value of its communities. In this case, the county worked with community partners, including the Midtown Farmers Market and the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, to build off the development site’s many advantages, including its transit access.

“We are thrilled to play a role in helping to transform this area of Lake Street,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. “This development fills a hole in our urban fabric, creating dynamic, walkable spaces that people will use on a daily basis.”

Project background 

About the Hennepin County human service center

  • As many as 1,000 people — clients and staff — will use the south Minneapolis human service center portion of the building each day.
  • Other human service center locations include Brooklyn Center, Bloomington, Hopkins, North Minneapolis and a downtown location opening later in November.

About the entire development

  • Phase 1 opens in 2017. Included are the human service center, 114 workforce housing units, 8,000 square feet of retail space fronting Lake Street, a transit plaza and parking.
  • Later phases will include the public gathering space, more than 400 residences, and parking. 
  • The project is being developed by L&H Station development, LLC, a joint venture between BKV Group and Launch Properties.
L&H Station site plan
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Project partners

Hennepin County, Corcoran  Neighborhood Organization, Midtown Farmers Market, BKV Group and L&H Station Development, LLC.

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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.