artist rendering of the completed project

8th Avenue South Redevelopment

8th Avenue South between Excelsior Blvd and Mainstreet

The City of Hopkins has long realized the need to improve the connection between Excelsior Blvd and Mainstreet for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 

The plan for a Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) station at 8th Avenue South and Excelsior Blvd has underlined that need and identified an important goal of attracting transit riders to Downtown Hopkins. 

Because 8th Avenue South is the intersection of the future LRT Station, is a signaled intersection, and is already designated as the bicycle connection between the Cedar Lake LRT trail and the Lake Minnetonka LRT trail, it makes sense to focus on 8th Avenue South as the main north-south connection between Excelsior Blvd and Mainstreet. 

Furthermore, the west side of 8th Avenue South offers some significant redevelopment opportunities.

In August of 2009, Park Nicollet vacated its former medical clinic on the corner of 8th Avenue South and 1st Street South. The City of Hopkins entered into an option agreement with Park Nicollet to acquire that property, and has since been awarded over $800,000 from Hennepin County’s Transit Oriented Development program toward its purchase. 

Properties north and south of the Park Nicollet property are also good candidates for redevelopment, and owners of both properties agreed to allow the City to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop the entire west side of 8th Avenue South between Excelsior Blvd and Mainstreet.

Proposals were received in late July of 2010, and the City Council has narrowed down its preferred developer to two highly qualified companies. In the meantime, because the City only has site control over the Park Nicollet site, it remains uncertain which, if any, of the other sites in the RFP will be a part of a final development.  Future discussions and selection of a preferred developer are anticipated in December of 2010. 

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Contacts

  • Director of Economic Development & Planning

    952-548-6340