MINNEAPOLIS (July 14, 2021) — To ensure that all Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) redevelopment efforts reflect the values of the Northside Community, the Upper Harbor Development team of United Properties, First Avenue and George Group North is inviting community-based organizations to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) by Aug. 15, 2021.
“This represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a large-scale, community-building asset in North Minneapolis — one that’s grounded in a restorative approach toward racial justice that meets the needs, aspirations and priorities of the Northside Community,” said Brandon Champeau, United Properties senior vice president & commercial development market leader. “It’s very important that we get this right, and we cannot be successful without the direction and insights that community partners will provide.”
The Expression of Interest has been open since early June, and interest from community organizations looking for opportunities to partner with the development team is robust. “We have heard from large corporations, smaller nonprofits and individual community members with varying degrees of interest and potential roles in the future redevelopment plans for the site,” Champeau added. “This visionary development aims to transform the North Minneapolis riverfront into a vibrant, lively community that offers opportunity for all. We hope to find partners for key critical roles that can make this a national model for community representation and ownership.”
The Upper Harbor Development team is seeking to fill three critically important community partner roles. The first is a community fund manager who will be responsible for the management and handling of community performing arts center (CPAC) funds, generated by a ticket fee for all First Avenue events. Additionally, the fund manager will make annual recommendations to the city on how to deploy ground-lease funds from private development into anti-displacement and anti-gentrification initiatives. The second is a CPAC community program manager/advisor who will work with First Avenue to oversee community programming, operations, marketing and event management. This includes prioritizing existing and new community entrepreneurs to expand into this space, creating events and programming that serve to build on existing community events with a focus on showcasing work from local artists, and using zip code priority hiring for event staffing. The third is a private development real estate partner who could partner with the development team on the leasing, ownership or management of the proposed ground floor commercial space in the project.
“As an African-American developer that focuses on revitalizing underserved communities, I am excited about this innovative project that addresses a multitude of needs that can transform North Minneapolis to a place I don’t believe it’s ever seen,” said Devean George, president and CEO of George Group North, which is part of the Upper Harbor Development team. “I look forward to working with talents and resources within the community to create a sense of ownership in the project that can ensure its success for years to come.”
For more information about the EOI, including a UHT project overview, partner role descriptions and role-specific qualifications, visit the UHT Redevelopment section at upperharbormpls.com.
Interested community organizations should send their EOIs to uhtinfo@uproperties.com by Aug. 15. Questions can be directed to the same address.
About the Upper Harbor Terminal project
Upper Harbor Terminal is a 48-acre site located on the Mississippi River. It formerly housed a barge shipping terminal that ceased operations in 2014. In 2016, United Properties responded to an RFP for the City of Minneapolis to imagine the possibilities of this site. Since then, the company has worked in partnership with the city and community to create an equitable development plan that meets the community’s needs and sets a precedent for how private development can align more intentionally with community values. For more information, visit www.upperharbormpls.com.
About United Properties
United Properties has been creating deep roots in the commercial real estate industry for more than 100 years. The company imagines new possibilities in real estate to help enrich communities and create lasting legacies. United Properties provides market expertise for ground-up development, redevelopment and acquisitions of value-add and stable investments. The company invests in and develops office, industrial, retail, mixed-use and senior housing properties. United Properties is owned by the Pohlad Companies and is headquartered in Minneapolis, with offices in Denver and Austin, Texas.
