The Development Tracker

09/24/2026

[EDINA, MN]

We finally have a better idea of what could be built on the former Edina Public Works site.

The property at Eden and Arcadia avenues has been empty since 2013, so this is one people have been waiting on for a while. Hempel Real Estate and Monarch Development Partners are now planning a mix of townhome-style and mid-rise homes for the site.

One thing that caught our attention: these would be condos. We just do not see many new condominium projects proposed anymore.

Jester Concepts is also part of the team, with restaurant space planned near the front of the property. The rest of the site would include a central green and several public gathering areas.

The project is still early, but Edina selected this team to redevelop the property and has approved an agreement allowing the plans to move through city review.

We have the full plan, project team and next steps at the link in our bio.

Monarch CRE Tushie Montgomery Architects Confluence JESTER.

09/23/2026

[LAKEVILLE, MN] Swig is coming to Minnesota, and it already has three south metro locations in the works.

Two are planned in Lakeville, with another headed to Shakopee.

If Swig isn’t on your radar yet, it probably will be soon. The Utah-based chain is known for customizable dirty sodas, refreshers, energy drinks and treats, all centered around a drive-thru format.

The first Minnesota stores are taking two pretty different real estate paths.

One Lakeville location will be part of a new development, while the other will move into an existing drive-thru space. TDT has confirmed both Lakeville sites and their anticipated opening timelines.

We’ve also learned that a Shakopee location is planned, though the exact site has not yet been identified publicly.

And these three won’t be the only ones. More Swig locations are expected across Minnesota as the chain builds out its presence here.

We’ll be keeping an eye on where they land next.

Full story now on The Development Tracker. Link in bio.

Swig

09/11/2026

[ST. LOUIS PARK, MN] Kohl’s is closing at Knollwood, but the space isn’t going dark. It’s already fully leased.

The longtime department store will close October 31, and its nearly 80,000-square-foot space is set to be divided among three tenants beginning in 2027.

We’ve been tracking this since early 2026 as the Kohl’s space was split up and the new lineup started coming together.

Two of the tenants will be new to Knollwood. The third is already there and is about to get a much bigger store.

So, who’s taking over?

See the three tenants, how the former Kohl’s will be divided and when each is expected to open in our latest Project Brief (link below).

The longtime department store will close this fall, but its nearly 80,000-square-foot space is already planned for full reuse beginning in 2027.

09/10/2026

[ALBERTVILLE, MN] Albertville Premium Outlets is having a pretty big year for new stores.

Six retailers are part of the latest round of changes at the center, with one already open and five more coming soon.

The lineup includes two brands returning to Albertville after years away, Minnesota’s first outlet location for one national retailer and what is expected to become only the second current standalone location in the state for another.

And there could still be more to come.

Once the five coming-soon stores open, only two other storefronts are currently available for lease across the center.

So… who’s opening?

Swipe through to see all six, then head to The Development Tracker for a closer look at where each store will be located and what’s changing at Albertville Premium Outlets.

08/24/2026

[CHANHASSEN, MN] Coborn’s Market & Table is coming to Avienda. 👀

The Minnesota-based grocer has signed a lease to become one of the major anchors at Avienda as plans for the development’s commercial district take shape.

If you haven’t been to the new Plymouth location yet, Coborn’s Market & Table brings a full-service grocery store together with places to eat, grab a drink and gather.

The Chanhassen location will include The Global Table, The Buttered Tin, Penny Horse Parlor and Cousins W**e & Spirits, along with an outdoor gathering area and gas pumps next to the store.

This will be the second Coborn’s Market & Table in the Twin Cities, bringing the concept to the southwest metro as part of a much larger mix of retail, restaurants and other commercial uses planned at Avienda.

Construction is currently targeted to begin in 2027.

We shared the bigger Avienda plan in our previous post. More details on Coborn’s Market & Table and what’s planned for Chanhassen are up now at The Development Tracker.

08/24/2026

[CHANHASSEN, MN] Avienda is getting a lot bigger, and after years in the works, its long-planned retail district has landed an anchor tenant.

A newly updated concept would add nearly 100,000 square feet of commercial space while completely reworking how much of the site comes together.

One of the biggest changes is right at the center. A much larger water feature would be surrounded by restaurants, patios, pedestrian spaces and smaller storefronts. Larger retail spaces around the site would also leave room for junior anchors and another sizable tenant.

The timing is notable too. Housing is already under construction nearby, and Chanhassen’s new civic development is taking shape just to the south.

With more than 200,000 square feet planned in the first commercial phase, Avienda would be one of the more substantial new retail developments currently proposed in the Twin Cities.

See the new renderings, site plan and full breakdown now on The Development Tracker.

And that newly announced grocery anchor? We’re covering it in our next post. 👀

Minnesota

08/24/2026

[CHAMPLIN, MN] This is what could finally be built on a site that has been waiting more than a decade for development.

Emery Lofts is proposed for a long-vacant property near Highway 169, where a number of commercial concepts have been explored over the years without moving forward.

Now, housing is on the table.

The proposal calls for 86 market-rate apartments in a new three-story building with underground parking, shared resident spaces and outdoor amenities.

It would also add something Champlin has seen very little of in recent years. According to the city, just one modern market-rate apartment building has been added in more than 35 years.

Real Assets II LLC is behind Emery Lofts, with Mahler & Associates Architecture leading the design.

Swipe through for a closer look at the building and one of the planned interior spaces.

We’ve got the full site plan, more renderings and the story behind the proposal now at TheDevelopmentTracker.com.

08/19/2026

[BLOOMINGTON, MN] THE WAIT IS OVER. MINNESOTA’S FIRST PRIMARK OPENS SEPTEMBER 3RD.

After years of Minnesotans asking when Primark would finally get here, the countdown is officially on.

The retailer is putting the finishing touches on its first Minnesota store at 143 East Broadway inside Mall of America’s Southeast Court, filling part of the former Forever 21 space.

Nearly 35,000 square feet of selling space will be filled with women’s, men’s and kids fashion, plus beauty, accessories, home goods and more.

Primark is also making opening day an event.

Doors open at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 3, with a DJ and giveaways at the store, while the Huntington Bank Rotunda will host a Minnesota State Fair-inspired Primark Fashion Fair with games, prizes and fashion shows throughout the day.

For now, the barricades are still up... but not for much longer.

Primark Mall of America

08/12/2026

[CHASKA, MN] If you’ve been wondering what the future holds for the old Oak Ridge Hotel site, now we know.

The property has been empty since 2020, and Scandvik Hotels is now working on a plan to bring it back with a new hospitality and wellness focus.

The biggest addition would be an outdoor Nordic spa near McKnight Lake. The hotel itself would also get a new look and operate under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio.

The spa plan has already changed as the team works through the wooded lakeside site with Chaska. The latest version gives us a much better idea of how the project could actually fit together.

There’s still plenty to work through before anything gets built, but this is the clearest look yet at what could come next for Oak Ridge.

Read the full Project Brief at the link in bio. TDT Insider is $3/month and includes this story plus 1,000+ development updates across the region.

Scandvik Hotels & Nordic Spa

07/25/2026

WE’VE BEEN TRACKING THIS ONE FOR A WHILE, AND NOW WE FINALLY HAVE A DATE. 🎉

Minnesota’s first Main Event will open August 3rd in Woodbury.

Bowling, laser tag, more than 100 arcade games, a full-service restaurant and bar, and private event space are all coming to the property next to Topgolf.

But Main Event is only part of the story. This site has changed quickly, and there is still more development planned around it.

We pulled together what to expect inside, the opening details and how Main Event fits into the bigger picture in our latest TDT Project Brief.

Read the full brief at the link in bio.

TDT Insider is $3 a month with access to more than 1,000 Project Briefs.

# TheDevelopmentTracker Main Event Woodbury