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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Nick Halter, Audrey Kennedy and Torey Van Oot.

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A decade without a major shopping center is squeezing Twin Cities retailers

Retail rents in the Twin Cities are growing faster than anywhere in the U.S.

Development

It&#x27;s been nearly 10 years since a large-scale shopping center opened in the Twin Cities, and despite a growing appetite for more space, there are no imminent plans for another. Why it matters: Retailers and restaurants looking to open shop are feeling the pinch. A recent JLL report says Twin Cities retail rents last quarter grew by 6.7% year-over-year, the largest hike in the nation.

Small Minnesota data centers fueling bigger AI backlash

Several relatively modest projects have sparked some of the loudest outcry.

News

In several Twin Cities communities, big fears about the future of AI are driving backlash to data center projects — even relatively small ones.Why it matters: Data centers are becoming a stand-in for broader anger at an AI future many Americans don&#x27;t want but fear they&#x27;ll have to pay for.<ul><li>New <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="statewide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.startribune.com/mn-politics-hot-dish-poll-takeaways-dems-gop-midterm-elections-outside-spending/601855488" data-vars-content-id="dd3f1f89-d2ab-4590-abaa-479cffc2a32f" data-vars-headline="Small Minnesota data centers fueling bigger AI backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.startribune.com/mn-politics-hot-dish-poll-takeaways-dems-gop-midterm-elections-outside-spending/601855488" target="_blank">statewide</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national polling" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/46250032.182768/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWlsbHRvd25wYXJ0bmVycy5jb20vaW5zaWdodHMvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1iYWNrbGFzaD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvZ2luJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/6577de049e5374e60a0e2e6eB9f5b2fce#_ga=2.102283201.1177888367.1783532777-1479187806.1769785246" data-vars-content-id="dd3f1f89-d2ab-4590-abaa-479cffc2a32f" data-vars-headline="Small Minnesota data centers fueling bigger AI backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/46250032.182768/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWlsbHRvd25wYXJ0bmVycy5jb20vaW5zaWdodHMvYmVoaW5kLXRoZS1iYWNrbGFzaD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvZ2luJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/6577de049e5374e60a0e2e6eB9f5b2fce#_ga=2.102283201.1177888367.1783532777-1479187806.1769785246" target="_self">national polling</a> suggests many voters are wary of the pace and terms of the buildout — and anxious about higher utility bills, home prices or environmental damage.</li></ul>

Minnesota paid leave program came in $70M under budget in first 6 months

While officials say it's been running smoothly, some have been frustrated by the system.

State officials say they&#x27;ve seen &quot;robust interest&quot; in Minnesota&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="paid leave program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/05/12k-minnesotans-apply-for-paid-leave-in-days-after-launch" data-vars-content-id="b4683e65-7e50-4c72-9cc2-c297e76042e1" data-vars-headline="Minnesota paid leave program came in $70M under budget in first 6 months" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/05/12k-minnesotans-apply-for-paid-leave-in-days-after-launch" target="_self">paid leave program</a> since its January launch. Why it matters: Nearly 75,000 Minnesotans took advantage of the program in the first six months, allowing them up to 12 weeks — or longer in some situations — to bond with a newborn, recover from a medical issue or care for a sick family member.

Twin Cities weekend guide: Country Club, drone show, pickleball and more

The country music spinoff of the popular Yacht Club festival arrives in St. Paul's Harriet Island this weekend.

Things to Do

The country music spinoff of the popular Yacht Club festival arrives in St. Paul&#x27;s Harriet Island this weekend. The two-day <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Minnesota Country Club" data-vars-click-url="https://www.minnesotacountryclubfest.com/" data-vars-content-id="0385c4e4-c7f0-498f-a262-1804cf5261e2" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend guide: Country Club, drone show, pickleball and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.minnesotacountryclubfest.com/" target="_blank">Minnesota Country Club</a> is a new wave country festival, so don&#x27;t expect to see the big corporate country acts. <ul><li>Friday&#x27;s lineup includes Treaty Oak Revival, Charley Crockett and Stephen Wilson Jr. </li><li>Saturday features the Red Clay Strays, Jessie Murph and Duluth&#x27;s Trampled by Turtles. $115+ for one-day passes. </li></ul>

What becomes of Target Center if the Wolves move?

A new Timberwolves arena wouldn't just replace Target Center — it could reshape downtown Minneapolis.

As the Timberwolves/Lynx <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="search for a new home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/07/timberwolves-lynx-new-owners-arena-location-options" data-vars-content-id="622f3372-2560-4245-98cb-7c5849cd846a" data-vars-headline="What becomes of Target Center if the Wolves move?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/07/timberwolves-lynx-new-owners-arena-location-options" target="_self">search for a new home</a>, the debate will soon heat up over what to do with the Target Center and its $53.5 million debt balance.Why it matters: This is a big and important piece of downtown real estate, and what to do with it should have developers, elected officials and urbanists dreaming.<ul><li>It will also become a key piece in the negotiations between the city of Minneapolis and team owners if they work out a deal for a new downtown arena.</li></ul>

St. Paul's Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback

Two new potential tenants have lined up for space in a complex where vacancies have mounted.

After years of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mounting vacancies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/10/17/midway-neighborhood-allianz-field-crisis-homelessness" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/10/17/midway-neighborhood-allianz-field-crisis-homelessness" target="_self">mounting vacancies</a>, a shopping complex in St. Paul&#x27;s Midway neighborhood appears poised for a comeback.Driving the news: A banner announcing an 80,000 square-foot indoor playground &quot;coming soon&quot; to the Midway Marketplace appeared last week on the former Herberger&#x27;s store, which has sat empty since 2018.<ul><li>Axios&#x27; messages to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lululand Adventure Park" data-vars-click-url="https://lululandadventurepark.com/" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lululandadventurepark.com/" target="_blank">Lululand Adventure Park</a> have yet to be returned, but the banner promises an arcade, augmented reality (AR) games and trampolines.</li></ul>Catch up quick: A company <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="with ties to the grocery chain H Mart" data-vars-click-url="https://mspmag.com/eat-and-drink/foodie/h-mart-korean-asian-grocery-supermarket-st-paul-mn/" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mspmag.com/eat-and-drink/foodie/h-mart-korean-asian-grocery-supermarket-st-paul-mn/" target="_blank">with ties to the grocery chain H Mart</a> recently bought other parts of the shopping complex that, until recently, housed a Cub Foods and an At Home store.<ul><li>It&#x27;s yet not clear whether the popular Asian grocer is actually moving in.</li></ul>Friction points: Vacancies at the Midway Marketplace have fueled neighborhood concerns about crime and trash.<ul><li>Conditions there have also invited <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deeper questions" data-vars-click-url="https://streets.mn/2025/09/18/why-the-midways-suburban-design-is-killing-its-commercial-future/" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://streets.mn/2025/09/18/why-the-midways-suburban-design-is-killing-its-commercial-future/" target="_blank">deeper questions</a> about whether a car-centric, suburban-style shopping complex is a good fit for an urban transit corridor.</li></ul>Zoom out: Construction is progressing on an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="office building and hotel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/10/14/what-s-going-up-next-near-mnufc-s-stadium" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/10/14/what-s-going-up-next-near-mnufc-s-stadium" target="_self">office building and hotel</a> near neighboring Allianz Field.<ul><li>Minnesota United FC owner Bill McGuire is also now leading <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="redevelopment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.stpaul.gov/news/redevelopment-former-cvs-site-advance-saint-pauls-midway-neighborhood" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.stpaul.gov/news/redevelopment-former-cvs-site-advance-saint-pauls-midway-neighborhood" target="_blank">redevelopment</a> of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="now-bulldozed Midway CVS" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWCIIxIjlfZ/" data-vars-content-id="21def72b-9b0d-4349-b327-c58b368415a7" data-vars-headline="St. Paul&#x27;s Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWCIIxIjlfZ/" target="_blank">now-bulldozed Midway CVS</a> lot.</li></ul>

Rare condo building begins pre-sales in Southwest Minneapolis

The 15 units in the building are listed between $800,000 and $1.5 million

A long-anticipated apartment development at the corner of 50th Street and Lyndale Avenue in Southwest Minneapolis has pivoted to condominiums. Why it matters: For-sale condos <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="have been rare" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/08/03/few-condos-twin-cities" data-vars-content-id="80ea45eb-28cb-4507-ad3a-d41626813b5a" data-vars-headline="Rare condo building begins pre-sales in Southwest Minneapolis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/08/03/few-condos-twin-cities" target="_self">have been rare</a> in the Twin Cities, especially outside downtown.

Minneapolis council to consider data center pause as downtown interest increases

Developers are beginning to see building data centers in vacant office towers as a tool to inject value back into underused downtown properties.

The Minneapolis City Council will decide Thursday whether to pause new data center development for a year.Why it matters: Developers are beginning to see <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="building data centers in vacant office towers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/19/how-data-centers-could-help-revive-downtowns" data-vars-content-id="e377b655-7271-4d0c-aa70-c835ea0dc38a" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis council to consider data center pause as downtown interest increases" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/03/19/how-data-centers-could-help-revive-downtowns" target="_self">building data centers in vacant office towers</a> as a tool to inject value back into underused downtown properties.<ul><li>But some council members want stricter rules in place before more projects move forward, citing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="concerns about electricity and water use" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/21/minnesotas-data-center-boom-concerns-electrical-supply" data-vars-content-id="e377b655-7271-4d0c-aa70-c835ea0dc38a" data-vars-headline="Minneapolis council to consider data center pause as downtown interest increases" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/01/21/minnesotas-data-center-boom-concerns-electrical-supply" target="_self">concerns about electricity and water use</a>.</li></ul>

Report warns of growing housing shortage

The Twin Cities has fallen short of housing production goals three straight years

The Twin Cities didn&#x27;t build nearly enough housing units last year to keep up with demand, an ongoing trend that&#x27;s contributing to rising rents and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/17/median-metro-home-price-reaches-400k-for-first-time" data-vars-content-id="88837c34-0bee-4a37-a8fc-cd9c68242851" data-vars-headline="Report warns of growing housing shortage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/17/median-metro-home-price-reaches-400k-for-first-time" target="_self">home prices</a>. By the numbers: Metro builders produced 12,161 units in 2025, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2026/twin-cities-region-misses-its-housing-marks" data-vars-content-id="88837c34-0bee-4a37-a8fc-cd9c68242851" data-vars-headline="Report warns of growing housing shortage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2026/twin-cities-region-misses-its-housing-marks" target="_blank">report</a> out Friday morning from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. <ul><li>That&#x27;s well below a goal of 18,000 units per year set by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Itasca Project" data-vars-click-url="https://itascaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Itasca-Housing_Affordability_Report_September_2020.pdf" data-vars-content-id="88837c34-0bee-4a37-a8fc-cd9c68242851" data-vars-headline="Report warns of growing housing shortage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://itascaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Itasca-Housing_Affordability_Report_September_2020.pdf" target="_blank">Itasca Project</a> as a key metric for maintaining housing affordability in the metro area.</li></ul>

Historic James J. Hill Library re-opens after renovation

Most of the library's 500,000 books remain

The historic James J. Hill Reference Library overlooking downtown St. Paul&#x27;s Rice Park has re-opened as Avalon event center following <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a $5 million renovation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/06/17/james-j-hill-reference-library-st-paul-buyer-peter-remes" data-vars-content-id="f61fe7d0-ab25-49bf-a7f8-53a1f23dabf9" data-vars-headline="Historic James J. Hill Library re-opens after renovation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/06/17/james-j-hill-reference-library-st-paul-buyer-peter-remes" target="_self">a $5 million renovation</a>.Flashback: The railroad tycoon built the library as a gift to the city, but died before its 1921 opening. <ul><li>For nearly 100 years, his family operated it as a working reference library before closing in 2019 due to operating losses. The George Latimer Central Library on the other side of the building has remained open to the public. </li></ul>

Dakota County's street grid is the key that unlocks the suburbs

Learn the grid, and you can navigate huge swaths of the county — and reconstruct the history of the suburban boom.

Neighborhoods

Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins can find almost any house in Inver Grove Heights without a phone or GPS, which once made his daughter think he was &quot;some kind of savant.&quot;<ul><li>He&#x27;s not — he just knows the system that much of Dakota County has used to name streets since the 1960s.</li></ul>The big picture: Once you learn the alphanumerical criss-cross, you can navigate huge swaths of the south metro — and see how the suburbs grew.

Scoop: Mayor Frey wants Wolves arena at City Center site

The mayor is pushing a Nicollet Mall NBA arena, but it's not clear if the Wolves are on board

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is pushing the City Center complex as a potential site for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Timberwolves/Lynx arena" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/07/timberwolves-lynx-new-owners-arena-location-options" data-vars-content-id="8f5f02b7-c1f2-4a6a-94cf-b9a49373280d" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Mayor Frey wants Wolves arena at City Center site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/07/07/timberwolves-lynx-new-owners-arena-location-options" target="_self">new Timberwolves/Lynx arena</a>, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks. Why it matters: The idea — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first floated by Axios" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/23/build-wolves-arena-city-center-minneapolis-downtown" data-vars-content-id="8f5f02b7-c1f2-4a6a-94cf-b9a49373280d" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Mayor Frey wants Wolves arena at City Center site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/23/build-wolves-arena-city-center-minneapolis-downtown" target="_self">first floated by Axios</a> — would mean demolishing one of the city&#x27;s tallest towers and bringing an NBA arena onto the struggling Nicollet Mall.

What to do with the distressed Dayton's Project

The $350M redevelopment now has a city-assessed value of $27M

A judge&#x27;s recent ruling approving the potential foreclosure of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dayton&#x27;s Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/11/15/daytons-project-macys-minneapolis-open-photos-tour-leasing" data-vars-content-id="456dd814-eb15-4206-8f0b-c1edd7fde525" data-vars-headline="What to do with the distressed Dayton&#x27;s Project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/11/15/daytons-project-macys-minneapolis-open-photos-tour-leasing" target="_self">Dayton&#x27;s Project</a> sets up a thorny question: What&#x27;s going to happen to one of the biggest — and emptiest — buildings in downtown Minneapolis?Why it matters: If some creative developer can&#x27;t figure it out, there&#x27;s a risk that one of the city&#x27;s largest properties, in the heart of Nicollet Mall, could remain hollow and fall into neglect.

Development 🏗️

What becomes of Target Center if the Wolves move?

St. Paul's Midway Marketplace could be poised for a comeback

A decade without a major shopping center is squeezing Twin Cities retailers

Rare condo building begins pre-sales in Southwest Minneapolis

Minneapolis council to consider data center pause as downtown interest increases