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Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus

It's another redevelopment opportunity for a neighborhood full of cranes.

News

Fairview has informed employees it plans to sell its St. Paul <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Midway" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/10/17/midway-neighborhood-allianz-field-crisis-homelessness" data-vars-content-id="65dc7646-7659-4466-9c75-c54445809392" data-vars-headline="Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus" 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">Midway</a> campus, the health care giant confirmed to Axios.Why it matters: Fairview&#x27;s departure — from a site it wasn&#x27;t fully using — frees 7 acres for redevelopment in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neighborhood" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/07/13/midway-marketplace-hmart-playground" data-vars-content-id="65dc7646-7659-4466-9c75-c54445809392" data-vars-headline="Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/07/13/midway-marketplace-hmart-playground" target="_self">neighborhood</a> already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="full of cranes and construction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/28/allianz-field-united-village-construction" data-vars-content-id="65dc7646-7659-4466-9c75-c54445809392" data-vars-headline="Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/02/28/allianz-field-united-village-construction" target="_self">full of cranes and construction</a>.<ul><li>It&#x27;s just two blocks away from several high-profile projects underway near <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Allianz Field" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/10/14/mnufc-united-village-development-park-rink" data-vars-content-id="65dc7646-7659-4466-9c75-c54445809392" data-vars-headline="Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus" 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/mnufc-united-village-development-park-rink" target="_self">Allianz Field</a> and the Snelling-University transit hub.</li></ul>

Luigi Mangione's state trial postponed after federal plea deal

Lawyers have until October to file their arguments on whether charges should be dropped.

Politics & Policy

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Luigi Mangione&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/09/luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-altoona" data-vars-content-id="3e6bd8c4-39f4-4923-a0c9-b4a61add537d" data-vars-headline="Luigi Mangione&#x27;s state trial postponed after federal plea deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/09/luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-altoona" target="_self">Luigi Mangione&#x27;s</a> New York state trial is on hold following <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="his guilty plea on federal charges" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-plea-trial-brian-thompson-case" data-vars-content-id="3e6bd8c4-39f4-4923-a0c9-b4a61add537d" data-vars-headline="Luigi Mangione&#x27;s state trial postponed after federal plea deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-plea-trial-brian-thompson-case" target="_self">his guilty plea on federal charges</a> in the 2024 slaying of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.The big picture: Mangione, who admitted in federal court last week that he shot and killed Thompson outside an investor conference in New York City, was supposed to go to trial on separate state charges on Sept. 8.

Minnesota's kindergarten vaccination rate drops again

Minnesota is becoming one of the least-vaccinated states in the nation.

Minnesota&#x27;s kindergarten vaccination rates fell across the board during the 2025-26 school year, according to new CDC <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="fa04957d-bf5c-4784-b33a-ab5ac0e11124" data-vars-headline="Minnesota&#x27;s kindergarten vaccination rate drops again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">data</a> released this week.Why it matters: Minnesota is becoming one of the least-vaccinated states in the nation, with immunization rates among kids well below levels needed to curb outbreaks of preventable diseases.

Twin Cities weekend events: Night Circus, PickleFest, garden tour

Expect 18-foot-tall "river spirit" puppets at this unique circus.

Things to Do

A sunset circus will take over all of Raspberry Island in St. Paul this Sunday — but don&#x27;t expect lions, tigers and bears.What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Insomnia Salon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.deeperwaterarts.org/insomnia-salon" data-vars-content-id="64bf55d7-abb2-49f5-8a92-e36103b33048" data-vars-headline="Twin Cities weekend events: Night Circus, PickleFest, garden tour" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.deeperwaterarts.org/insomnia-salon" target="_blank">Insomnia Salon</a>, which describes itself as a &quot;surreal, sleepless performance and art collective,&quot; has created a unique two-hour event with everything from belly dancers to 18-foot-tall river spirit puppets.

Retail roundup: Crunch Fitness to flex into former Lunds & Byerly's in St. Paul

Crunch Fitness and Foss Swim School will fill the former Lunds in St. Paul's Highland Park hood.

Real Estate

A Crunch Fitness and Foss Swim School are coming to St. Paul&#x27;s Highland Park neighborhood.Why it matters: The additions to the Highland Village Shopping Center on Ford Parkway will fill a high-traffic anchor store spot that has sat vacant since Lunds &amp; Byerlys moved to the neighboring Highland Bridge redevelopment in 2022.<ul><li>A nail salon and a Chase bank are also slated to join the complex, per signage at the site. </li></ul>

Office-to-apartment conversions heat up

The projects will bring hundreds of new residents to the downtowns.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="yearslong effort" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/01/31/minneapolis-office-apartment-conversion-tricky-big-floors" data-vars-content-id="1123b446-02a0-477b-af7e-6b918a8d2a9e" data-vars-headline="Office-to-apartment conversions heat up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/01/31/minneapolis-office-apartment-conversion-tricky-big-floors" target="_self">yearslong effort</a> to turn office buildings into apartments is finally breaking through this summer, with three projects bringing hundreds of new residents downtown.Why it matters: The conversions — two in Minneapolis and one in St. Paul — will provide a boost to local businesses that have long depended on office workers who are spending more time at home.

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>

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.

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>

"Zoë Bakes" star lists Minneapolis home with TV-ready kitchen

François' chef's kitchen served as the backdrop for her HBO Max show "Zoë Bakes."

Want to be the star of your own cooking show? This historic Minneapolis home has the kitchen for you.Driving the news: Twin Cities baker, cookbook author and television host <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zoë François" data-vars-click-url="https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/zoe-francois-rise/" data-vars-content-id="b53c4956-f651-4ac1-9a0f-6ad5b20afb81" data-vars-headline="&quot;Zoë Bakes&quot; star lists Minneapolis home with TV-ready kitchen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/zoe-francois-rise/" target="_blank">Zoë François</a> just put her home on the market — and you may recognize that chef&#x27;s kitchen as the backdrop of her HBO Max show &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zoë Bakes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hbomax.com/shows/zoe-bakes/85d7df13-47b2-4d07-a5b4-35674ffd86ef" data-vars-content-id="b53c4956-f651-4ac1-9a0f-6ad5b20afb81" data-vars-headline="&quot;Zoë Bakes&quot; star lists Minneapolis home with TV-ready kitchen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hbomax.com/shows/zoe-bakes/85d7df13-47b2-4d07-a5b4-35674ffd86ef" target="_blank">Zoë Bakes</a>.&quot;

St. Paul skyway users frustrated by prolonged closure

The Alliance Bank Center has been closed for over a year

Nancy Kehmeier typically walks from her Landmark Tower condo to the east side of downtown St. Paul two or three times a day, but for the past 13 months, that has meant leaving the climate-controlled skyway system.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="closure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/11/alliance-bank-tower-st-paul-vacancy" data-vars-content-id="934c681c-d82d-4026-90ad-5610575347f2" data-vars-headline="St. Paul skyway users frustrated by prolonged closure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2025/04/11/alliance-bank-tower-st-paul-vacancy" target="_self">closure</a> of the Alliance Bank Center has cut off a key connection in the city&#x27;s 5-mile system of glass bridges, forcing residents like Kehmeier to navigate around the building and putting additional pressure on people with accessibility challenges.

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>

Real Estate 🏠

Fairview selling St. Paul Midway campus

Retail roundup: Crunch Fitness to flex into former Lunds & Byerly's in St. Paul

Office-to-apartment conversions heat up

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

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