NEON Collective Kitchens makes debut on West Broadway
The Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) Collective Kitchens, a community-led incubator giving food entrepreneurs access to affordable commercial kitchen space, has opened in north Minneapolis.
This new hub will help spark economic activity and connection across the North Side, addressing the scarcity of affordable commercial kitchen space in the Twin Cities and creating a launchpad for emerging chefs and culinary businesses.
Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando joined other community leaders at a recent grand opening celebration for Collective Kitchens. Hennepin County invested $250,000 in 2023 to help bring Collective Kitchens to life as part of our economic development strategy and commitment to equitable, community-centered small business growth.
“We believe entrepreneurship drives economic growth and builds resilient communities. When you invest in food entrepreneurs, you invest in families, in culture, and in the future of the North Side,” Fernando said. “This project is a model of what equitable economic development can look like: community-led, community-centered, and community-benefiting.”
The 25,000-square-foot building is the largest shared kitchen space in the state, according to NEON.
501 Mainstreet redevelopment underway
The 501 Mainstreet redevelopment in downtown Hopkins is officially breaking ground June 16, marking a significant step in transforming a long‑vacant, city‑owned site into new housing and walkable, transit‑connected community space.
The project recently achieved Phius Design Certification — a key milestone that reflects its commitment to high‑performance, energy‑efficient building standards.The development will bring 41 new homes to Mainstreet, including four affordable units for residents earning at or below 60% AMI. Located along the METRO Green Line Extension, the development will add vitality to Hopkins’ historic corridor while advancing Hennepin County’s goals for sustainable, transit‑oriented growth.
The county committed $350,000 in Transit Oriented Communities funding to the project in 2025.
Wihinaphe ‘New Beginnings’ project on track for September opening
The Native American Community Clinic (NACC)’s Wihinaphe “New Beginnings” affordable housing community and community clinic in south Minneapolis is scheduled to open in September.
The development will deliver 83 affordable family homes and a 30,000 square-foot health center along the American Indian Cultural Corridor on Franklin Avenue, integrating medical, behavioral health, dental, and substance use services.
The $55 million project centers culturally grounded care with energy‑efficient design and community spaces for ceremony, medicinal plantings, a rooftop garden, play areas, and outdoor gathering.
The county has supported the project with $2.9 million in both housing and economic development funding through our Supportive Housing Strategy, Affordable Housing Incentive Fund and Transit Oriented Communities programs.
Two redevelopment projects planned for Penn and Lowry in North Minneapolis
The Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority is advancing redevelopment in north Minneapolis by selling three surplus properties at 3200 Queen Ave N., 3211 Penn Ave N., and 3206 Penn Ave N. The sites were included in a joint county-city RFP in late 2024 that drew strong community support for projects combining affordable housing with active ground‑floor uses.
After evaluating nine proposals, staff recommended two to proceed:
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VY Enterprise LLC for an affordable housing development at the northwest corner of Penn and Lowry.
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John Aish Inc. for a potential four-story mixed-use project on the northeast corner.
Together, the projects will revitalize vacant land while expanding affordable housing in alignment with the county’s disparity‑elimination goals.
Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) conference coming to Twin Cities in 2027
The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) has announced that Minneapolis–Saint Paul will host its 35th annual Congress, June 15-18, 2027. Most events will take place in Minneapolis’ Mill District, a neighborhood that highlights adaptive reuse, riverfront access, and multimodal transportation.
Local partners and planners from the original 2020 host committee will help shape the event, which is expected to draw more than 1,500 planners, designers, public officials, and community leaders. CNU 35 will feature 100+ sessions, design workshops, and local tours that elevate the lived experiences and priorities of the Twin Cities while exploring strategies that strengthen the public realm.
CNU is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on championing better design of cities and towns to improve lives and strengthen communities for all -- a commitment shared by the county’s Community Investment team and its work supporting walkable, resilient, accessible, and equitable communities.
Hopkins seeking proposals for historic building
The City of Hopkins/HRA is seeking qualified buyers to reactivate the historic Albert Pike Masonic Lodge at 907 Mainstreet. Proposals should preserve the primary façade and bring an active, publicly accessible use to downtown — such as a restaurant, retail, arts/event space, or mixed-use with a public component.
Key dates: Proposals due by 5 p.m. (CST) on June 30.
View the RFP and property details on the city’s website.
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